Spinal projections from the presumptive midbrain locomotor region in the mouse

The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) plays an important role in the control of locomotion, but there is ongoing debate about the anatomy of its connections with the spinal cord. In this study, we have examined the spinal projections of the mouse precuneiform nucleus (PrCnF), which lies within th...

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Main Authors: Liang, H., Paxinos, G., Watson, Charles
Format: Journal Article
Published: Springer 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37015
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author Liang, H.
Paxinos, G.
Watson, Charles
author_facet Liang, H.
Paxinos, G.
Watson, Charles
author_sort Liang, H.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) plays an important role in the control of locomotion, but there is ongoing debate about the anatomy of its connections with the spinal cord. In this study, we have examined the spinal projections of the mouse precuneiform nucleus (PrCnF), which lies within the boundaries of the presumptive MLR. We used both retrograde and anterograde labeling techniques. Small clusters of labeled neurons were seen in the medial portion of the PrCnF following fluorogold injections in the upper cervical spinal cord. Fewer labeled neurons were seen in the PrCnF after upper thoracic injections. Following the injection of anterograde tracer (biotinylated dextran amine) into the PrCnF, labelled fibers were clearly observed in the spinal cord. These fibers travelled in the ventral and lateral funiculi, and terminated mainly in the medial portions of laminae 7, 8, and 9, as well as area 10, with an ipsilateral predominance. Our observations indicate that projections from the PrCnF to the spinal cord may provide an anatomical substrate for the role of the MLR in locomotion.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-370152017-09-13T15:16:05Z Spinal projections from the presumptive midbrain locomotor region in the mouse Liang, H. Paxinos, G. Watson, Charles Fluoro-gold Biotinylated dextran amine Spinal cord Precuneiform nucleus The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) plays an important role in the control of locomotion, but there is ongoing debate about the anatomy of its connections with the spinal cord. In this study, we have examined the spinal projections of the mouse precuneiform nucleus (PrCnF), which lies within the boundaries of the presumptive MLR. We used both retrograde and anterograde labeling techniques. Small clusters of labeled neurons were seen in the medial portion of the PrCnF following fluorogold injections in the upper cervical spinal cord. Fewer labeled neurons were seen in the PrCnF after upper thoracic injections. Following the injection of anterograde tracer (biotinylated dextran amine) into the PrCnF, labelled fibers were clearly observed in the spinal cord. These fibers travelled in the ventral and lateral funiculi, and terminated mainly in the medial portions of laminae 7, 8, and 9, as well as area 10, with an ipsilateral predominance. Our observations indicate that projections from the PrCnF to the spinal cord may provide an anatomical substrate for the role of the MLR in locomotion. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37015 10.1007/s00429-011-0337-6 Springer restricted
spellingShingle Fluoro-gold
Biotinylated dextran amine
Spinal cord
Precuneiform nucleus
Liang, H.
Paxinos, G.
Watson, Charles
Spinal projections from the presumptive midbrain locomotor region in the mouse
title Spinal projections from the presumptive midbrain locomotor region in the mouse
title_full Spinal projections from the presumptive midbrain locomotor region in the mouse
title_fullStr Spinal projections from the presumptive midbrain locomotor region in the mouse
title_full_unstemmed Spinal projections from the presumptive midbrain locomotor region in the mouse
title_short Spinal projections from the presumptive midbrain locomotor region in the mouse
title_sort spinal projections from the presumptive midbrain locomotor region in the mouse
topic Fluoro-gold
Biotinylated dextran amine
Spinal cord
Precuneiform nucleus
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37015