Regenerated fibers of the lamprey spinal cord can coordinate fictive swimming in the presence of curare.
Recently evidence was presented that, following transection, spinal cords of larval lampreys could regenerate functional connections. The demonstration in isolated spinal cord-notochord preparations consisted of fictive swimming coordinated across the lesion site. In the study reported here curare was added to the bath to eliminate the possible contribution from reflexes mediated by contractions from any remaining muscle fibers attached to the notochord. Coordination remained in the presence of curare, adding further evidence that indeed the regenerated fibers formed functionally appropriate connections.
D000818:Animals; D003472:Curare / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007536:Isomerism; D007798:Lampreys; D007814:Larva; D009043:Motor Activity; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009672:Notochord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming
D005971:Glutamates; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D003472:Curare