Descending Command Neurons in the Brainstem that Halt Locomotion

TY - JOUR

T1 - Descending Command Neurons in the Brainstem that Halt Locomotion

AU - Bouvier, Julien

AU - Caggiano, Vittorio

AU - Leiras, Roberto

AU - Caldeira, Vanessa

AU - Bellardita, Carmelo

AU - Balueva, Kira

AU - Fuchs, Andrea

AU - Kiehn, Ole

PY - 2015/11/19

Y1 - 2015/11/19

N2 - Summary The episodic nature of locomotion is thought to be controlled by descending inputs from the brainstem. Most studies have largely attributed this control to initiating excitatory signals, but little is known about putative commands that may specifically determine locomotor offset. To link identifiable brainstem populations to a potential locomotor stop signal, we used developmental genetics and considered a discrete neuronal population in the reticular formation: the V2a neurons. We find that those neurons constitute a major excitatory pathway to locomotor areas of the ventral spinal cord. Selective activation of V2a neurons of the rostral medulla stops ongoing locomotor activity, owing to an inhibition of premotor locomotor networks in the spinal cord. Moreover, inactivation of such neurons decreases spontaneous stopping in vivo. Therefore, the V2a "stop neurons" represent a glutamatergic descending pathway that favors immobility and may thus help control the episodic nature of locomotion.

AB - Summary The episodic nature of locomotion is thought to be controlled by descending inputs from the brainstem. Most studies have largely attributed this control to initiating excitatory signals, but little is known about putative commands that may specifically determine locomotor offset. To link identifiable brainstem populations to a potential locomotor stop signal, we used developmental genetics and considered a discrete neuronal population in the reticular formation: the V2a neurons. We find that those neurons constitute a major excitatory pathway to locomotor areas of the ventral spinal cord. Selective activation of V2a neurons of the rostral medulla stops ongoing locomotor activity, owing to an inhibition of premotor locomotor networks in the spinal cord. Moreover, inactivation of such neurons decreases spontaneous stopping in vivo. Therefore, the V2a "stop neurons" represent a glutamatergic descending pathway that favors immobility and may thus help control the episodic nature of locomotion.

U2 - 10.1016/j.cell.2015.10.074

DO - 10.1016/j.cell.2015.10.074

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26590422

AN - SCOPUS:84947727168

SN - 0092-8674

VL - 163

SP - 1191

EP - 1203

JO - Cell

JF - Cell

IS - 5

ER -