title: Contribution of persistent sodium current to locomotor pattern generation in neonatal rats.
abstract: The persistent sodium current (I(NaP)) is known to play a role in rhythm generation in different systems. Here, we investigated its contribution to locomotor pattern generation in the neonatal rat spinal cord. The locomotor network is mainly located in the ventromedial gray matter of upper lumbar segments. By means of whole cell recordings in slices, we characterized membrane and I(NaP) biophysical properties of interneurons located in this area. Compared with motoneurons, interneurons were more excitable, because of higher input resistance and membrane time constant, and displayed lower firing frequency arising from broader spikes and longer AHPs. Ramp voltage-clamp protocols revealed a riluzole- or TTX-sensitive inward current, presumably I(NaP), three times smaller in interneurons than in motoneurons. However, in contrast to motoneurons, I(NaP) mediated a prolonged plateau potential in interneurons after reducing K(+) and Ca(2+) currents. We further used in vitro isolated spinal cord preparations to investigate the contribution of I(NaP) to locomotor pattern. Application of riluzole (10 muM) to the whole spinal cord or to the upper lumbar segments disturbed fictive locomotion, whereas application of riluzole over the caudal lumbar segments had no effect. The effects of riluzole appeared to arise from a specific blockade of I(NaP) because action potential waveform, dorsal root-evoked potentials, and miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents were not affected. This study provides new functional features of ventromedial interneurons, with the first description of I(NaP)-mediated plateau potentials, and new insights into the operation of the locomotor network with a critical implication of I(NaP) in stabilizing the locomotor pattern.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Plasticité et Physio-Pathologie de la Motricité, Unité Mixte de Recherche 6196, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tazerart
authors.forename: Jean-Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Viemari
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Darbon
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vinay
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brocard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007395:Interneurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019782:Riluzole / Q000494:pharmacology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D015222:Sodium Channels; D012701:Serotonin; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D019782:Riluzole