scholarly journals A Brainstem reticulotegmental neural ensemble drives acoustic startle reflexes

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiwei Guo ◽  
Sijia Fan ◽  
Dan Xiao ◽  
Hui Dong ◽  
Guangwei Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Acoustic Startle ◽  
Auditory Information ◽  
Spinal Motor Neurons ◽  
Glutamatergic Neurons ◽  
Spinal Motor ◽  
Neural Ensemble ◽  
Crucial Component

AbstractThe reticulotegmental nucleus (RtTg) has long been recognized as a crucial component of brainstem reticular formation (RF). However, the function of RtTg and its related circuits remain elusive. Here, we report a role of the RtTg in startle reflex, a highly conserved innate defensive behaviour. Optogenetic activation of RtTg neurons evokes robust startle responses in mice. The glutamatergic neurons in the RtTg are significantly activated during acoustic startle reflexes (ASR). Chemogenetic inhibition of the RtTg glutamatergic neurons decreases the ASR amplitudes. Viral tracing reveals an ASR neural circuit that the cochlear nucleus carrying auditory information sends direct excitatory innervations to the RtTg glutamatergic neurons, which in turn project to spinal motor neurons. Together, our findings describe a functional role of RtTg and its related neural circuit in startle reflexes, and demonstrate how the RF connects auditory system with motor functions.

Role of mitochondria in kainate-induced fast Ca2+ transients in cultured spinal motor neurons

Cell Calcium ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Grosskreutz ◽  
Kirsten Haastert ◽  
Maarten Dewil ◽  
Philip Van Damme ◽  
Geert Callewaert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Spinal Motor Neurons ◽  
Spinal Motor

scholarly journals Synergistic integration of Netrin and ephrin axon guidance signals by spinal motor neurons

eLife ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Poliak ◽  
Daniel Morales ◽  
Louis-Philippe Croteau ◽  
Dayana Krawchuk ◽  
Elena Palmesino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Growth Cones ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Motor Axons ◽  
Spinal Motor Neurons ◽  
Spinal Motor

During neural circuit assembly, axonal growth cones are exposed to multiple guidance signals at trajectory choice points. While axonal responses to individual guidance cues have been extensively studied, less is known about responses to combination of signals and underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we studied the convergence of signals directing trajectory selection of spinal motor axons entering the limb. We first demonstrate that Netrin-1 attracts and repels distinct motor axon populations, according to their expression of Netrin receptors. Quantitative in vitro assays demonstrate that motor axons synergistically integrate both attractive or repulsive Netrin-1 signals together with repulsive ephrin signals. Our investigations of the mechanism of ephrin-B2 and Netrin-1 integration demonstrate that the Netrin receptor Unc5c and the ephrin receptor EphB2 can form a complex in a ligand-dependent manner and that Netrin–ephrin synergistic growth cones responses involve the potentiation of Src family kinase signaling, a common effector of both pathways.

Role of proteasomes in the formation of neurofilamentous inclusions in spinal motor neurons of aluminum-treated rabbits

2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 522-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noriyuki Kimura ◽  
Toshihide Kumamoto ◽  
Hidetsugu Ueyama ◽  
Hideo Horinouchi ◽  
Eisaku Ohama
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Spinal Motor Neurons ◽  
Spinal Motor

scholarly journals Generation of spinal motor neurons from human fetal brain-derived neural stem cells: Role of basic fibroblast growth factor

2009 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 318-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paivi M. Jordan ◽  
Luis D. Ojeda ◽  
Jason R. Thonhoff ◽  
Junling Gao ◽  
Darren Boehning ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Fibroblast Growth Factor ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Fetal Brain ◽  
Fibroblast Growth ◽  
Human Fetal Brain ◽  
Spinal Motor Neurons ◽  
Spinal Motor

Antibodies Against Cysteine String Proteins Inhibit Evoked Neurotransmitter Release at Xenopus Neuromuscular Junctions

1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Poage ◽  
Stephen D. Meriney ◽  
Cameron B. Gundersen ◽  
Joy A. Umbach
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Neurotransmitter Release ◽  
Neuromuscular Junctions ◽  
Selective Inhibition ◽  
Spinal Motor Neurons ◽  
Neurotransmitter Secretion ◽  
Spinal Motor ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Antibody Effects

Cysteine string proteins (CSPs) are evolutionarily conserved proteins that are associated with synaptic vesicles and other regulated secretory organelles. To investigate the role of CSPs in vertebrate neuromuscular transmission, we introduced anti-CSP antibodies into the cell bodies of Xenopus spinal motor neurons that form synapses with embryonic muscle cells in culture. These antibodies produced a rapid (within 3–6 min), and in most cases complete, inhibition of stimulus-dependent neurotransmitter secretion. However, spontaneous neurotransmitter release was stable (both in frequency and amplitude) throughout the period of antibody exposure. Several control experiments validated the specificity of the anti-CSP antibody effects. First, the anti-CSP antibody actions were not mimicked either by antibodies against another synaptic vesicle protein SV2, or by nonspecific immunoglobins. Second, heat treatment of the anti-CSP antibodies eliminated their effect on evoked secretion. Third, immunoblot experiments showed that the anti-CSP and anti-SV2 antibodies were highly selective for their respective antigens in these Xenopus cultures. We conclude from these results that CSPs are vital constituents of the pathway for regulated neurotransmitter release in vertebrates. Moreover, the selective inhibition of evoked, but not spontaneous transmitter release by anti-CSP antibodies indicates that there is a fundamental difference in the machinery that mediates these secretory processes.

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