Click here to close
Hello! We notice that you are using Internet Explorer, which is not supported by Xenbase and may cause the site to display incorrectly.
We suggest using a current version of Chrome,
FireFox, or Safari.
???displayArticle.abstract???
We describe a novel preparation of the isolated brain stem and spinal cord from prometamorphic tadpole stages of the South African clawed frog ( Xenopus laevis) that permits whole cell patch-clamp recordings from neurons in the ventral spinal cord. Previous research on earlier stages of the same species has provided one of the most detailed understandings of the design and operation of a central pattern generator circuit. Here we have addressed how development sculpts complexity from this more basic circuit. The preparation generates bouts of fictive swimming activity either spontaneously or in response to electrical stimulation of the optic tectum, allowing an investigation into how the neuronal properties, activity patterns, and neuromodulation of locomotor rhythm generation change during development. We describe an increased repertoire of cellular responses compared with younger larval stages and investigate the cellular-level effects of nitrergic neuromodulation as well as the development of a sodium pump-mediated ultraslow afterhyperpolarization (usAHP) in these free-swimming larval animals. NEW & NOTEWORTHY A novel in vitro brain stem-spinal cord preparation is described that enables whole cell patch-clamp recordings from spinal neurons in prometamorphic Xenopus tadpoles. Compared with the well-characterized earlier stages of development, spinal neurons display a wider range of firing properties during swimming and have developed novel cellular properties. This preparation now makes it feasible to investigate in detail spinal central pattern generator maturation during the dramatic switch between undulatory and limb-based locomotion strategies during amphibian metamorphosis.
Azarias,
A specific and essential role for Na,K-ATPase α3 in neurons co-expressing α1 and α3.
2013, Pubmed
Azarias,
A specific and essential role for Na,K-ATPase α3 in neurons co-expressing α1 and α3.
2013,
Pubmed
Combes,
Developmental segregation of spinal networks driving axial- and hindlimb-based locomotion in metamorphosing Xenopus laevis.
2004,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Cornelius,
Functional modulation of the sodium pump: the regulatory proteins "Fixit".
2003,
Pubmed
Cox,
Nitric oxide facilitates N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced burst firing in dopamine neurons from rat midbrain slices.
1998,
Pubmed
Currie,
A behaviorally related developmental switch in nitrergic modulation of locomotor rhythmogenesis in larval Xenopus tadpoles.
2016,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Dale,
Reciprocal inhibitory interneurones in the Xenopus embryo spinal cord.
1985,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
el Manira,
Calcium-dependent potassium channels play a critical role for burst termination in the locomotor network in lamprey.
1994,
Pubmed
Gabriel,
Principles governing recruitment of motoneurons during swimming in zebrafish.
2011,
Pubmed
Garthwaite,
Nitric oxide signaling in the central nervous system.
1995,
Pubmed
Grillner,
Ion channels of importance for the locomotor pattern generation in the lamprey brainstem-spinal cord.
2001,
Pubmed
Gupta,
Differential stimulation of Na+ pump activity by insulin and nitric oxide in rabbit aorta.
1996,
Pubmed
Hill,
Apamin blocks the slow AHP in lamprey and delays termination of locomotor bursts.
1992,
Pubmed
Hochman,
TTX-resistant NMDA receptor-mediated voltage oscillations in mammalian lumbar motoneurons.
1994,
Pubmed
Jaffrey,
Protein S-nitrosylation: a physiological signal for neuronal nitric oxide.
2001,
Pubmed
Johnson,
Burst firing in dopamine neurons induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate: role of electrogenic sodium pump.
1992,
Pubmed
Kueh,
Na(+)/K(+) pump interacts with the h-current to control bursting activity in central pattern generator neurons of leeches.
2016,
Pubmed
Li,
Persistent responses to brief stimuli: feedback excitation among brainstem neurons.
2006,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
McLean,
Metamodulation of a spinal locomotor network by nitric oxide.
2004,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
McLean,
Nitric oxide selectively tunes inhibitory synapses to modulate vertebrate locomotion.
2002,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Meffert,
Nitric oxide stimulates Ca(2+)-independent synaptic vesicle release.
1994,
Pubmed
Menelaou,
A gradient in endogenous rhythmicity and oscillatory drive matches recruitment order in an axial motor pool.
2012,
Pubmed
Miles,
Spinal cholinergic interneurons regulate the excitability of motoneurons during locomotion.
2007,
Pubmed
Picton,
Sodium Pumps Mediate Activity-Dependent Changes in Mammalian Motor Networks.
2017,
Pubmed
Pulver,
Spike integration and cellular memory in a rhythmic network from Na+/K+ pump current dynamics.
2010,
Pubmed
Reith,
Development and role of GABA(A) receptor-mediated synaptic potentials during swimming in postembryonic Xenopus laevis tadpoles.
1999,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Reith,
A role for slow NMDA receptor-mediated, intrinsic neuronal oscillations in the control of fast fictive swimming in Xenopus laevis larvae.
1998,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Roberts,
How neurons generate behavior in a hatchling amphibian tadpole: an outline.
2010,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Sah,
Channels underlying neuronal calcium-activated potassium currents.
2002,
Pubmed
Sato,
Inhibition of purified (Na+,K+)-ATPase activity from porcine cerebral cortex by NO generating drugs.
1995,
Pubmed
Sautois,
Role of type-specific neuron properties in a spinal cord motor network.
2007,
Pubmed
Scrymgeour-Wedderburn,
Voltage oscillations in Xenopus spinal cord neurons: developmental onset and dependence on co-activation of NMDA and 5HT receptors.
1997,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Sillar,
The development of swimming rhythmicity in post-embryonic Xenopus laevis.
1991,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Sillar,
Modulation of swimming rhythmicity by 5-hydroxytryptamine during post-embryonic development in Xenopus laevis.
1992,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Sillar,
Neuromodulation in developing motor microcircuits.
2014,
Pubmed
Soffe,
Activity of commissural interneurons in spinal cord of Xenopus embryos.
1984,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Soffe,
Ionic and pharmacological properties of reciprocal inhibition in Xenopus embryo motoneurones.
1987,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Therien,
Mechanisms of sodium pump regulation.
2000,
Pubmed
Wallén,
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-induced, inherent oscillatory activity in neurons active during fictive locomotion in the lamprey.
1987,
Pubmed
Wallén,
Effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine on the afterhyperpolarization, spike frequency regulation, and oscillatory membrane properties in lamprey spinal cord neurons.
1989,
Pubmed
Webb,
Control of posture, depth, and swimming trajectories of fishes.
2002,
Pubmed
Zhang,
Short-term memory of motor network performance via activity-dependent potentiation of Na+/K+ pump function.
2012,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Zhang,
Electrical coupling synchronises spinal motoneuron activity during swimming in hatchling Xenopus tadpoles.
2009,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Zhang,
Development of a spinal locomotor rheostat.
2011,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase
Zhang,
Mechanisms underlying the activity-dependent regulation of locomotor network performance by the Na+ pump.
2015,
Pubmed
,
Xenbase