title: Role of sensory-evoked NMDA plateau potentials in the initiation of locomotion.
abstract: Reticulospinal (RS) neurons constitute the main descending motor system of lampreys. This study reports on natural conditions whereby N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated plateau potentials were elicited and associated with the onset of locomotion. Reticulospinal neurons responded in a linear fashion to mild skin stimulation. With stronger stimuli, large depolarizing plateaus with spiking activity were elicited and were accompanied by swimming movements. Calcium imaging revealed sustained intracellular calcium rise upon sensory stimulation. Blocking NMDA receptors on RS neurons prevented the plateau potentials as well as the associated rise in intracellular calcium. Thus, the activation of NMDA receptors mediates a switch from sensory-reception mode to a motor command mode in RS neurons.
authors.affiliation: Département de Physiologie, Centre de Recherche en Sciences Neurologiques, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3C 3J7.
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Di Prisco
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pearlstein
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Robitaille
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dubuc
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007798:Lampreys / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology*; D012154:Reticular Formation / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D002118:Calcium