 |
 Previous Article | Next Article 
Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 13, 990-1000, Copyright © 1993 by Society for Neuroscience
The effects of intrathecal administration of excitatory amino acid agonists and antagonists on the initiation of locomotion in the adult cat
JR Douglas, BR Noga, X Dai and LM Jordan
Department of Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Development of pharmacological strategies for the control of locomotion in
patients with spinal cord injury or disease requires an understanding of
the neuroactive substances involved in the activation of the spinal cord
neural systems for the control of locomotion. Studies using the in vitro
preparations of the lamprey, frog embryo, and newborn rat indicate that
excitatory amino acids (EAAs) are involved in the initiation of locomotion.
The present study determines whether spinal EAA receptors play a role in
locomotion in an in vivo, adult mammalian preparation. Experiments were
performed on precollicular, postmammillary decerebrate cats, some of which
were spinalized at the 13th thoracic segment. Cannulas for drug infusions
were positioned intrathecally in the lumbar region of the spinal cord. A
ligature around the spinal cord at the level of the 13th thoracic segment
prevented rostral diffusion of the drugs. Locomotion was monitored with
electromyograms in treadmill locomotion experiments and electroneurograms
in fictive locomotion experiments. Intrathecal infusion of either the NMDA
receptor antagonist 2-amino-5- phosphonovaleric acid or the non-NMDA
receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7- nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione blocked hindlimb
treadmill and fictive locomotion induced by electrical stimulation of the
mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) of the midbrain. Intrathecal
administration of NMDA elicited hindlimb fictive locomotion in resting
animals similar to that evoked by electrical stimulation of the MLR. At
lower concentrations, NMDA evoked either independent bursting activity in
the various nerves or loosely organized rhythmicity showing little
reciprocity between antagonists. In contrast, administration of the EAA
uptake blocker dihydrokainic acid (DHK) evoked intermittent periods of
bursting activity characterized by a variable duration and a high degree of
reciprocity between flexors and extensors. Given together at low
concentrations, NMDA and DHK produced a well-coordinated locomotor pattern.
Kainate and quisqualate were ineffective in producing fictive locomotion.
These results are consistent with the suggestion that EAAs play a role in
the initiation of mammalian locomotion. Furthermore, the results are
consistent with those obtained from the neonatal rat in vitro preparations.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
H. Delivet-Mongrain, H. Leblond, and S. Rossignol
Effects of Localized Intraspinal Injections of a Noradrenergic Blocker on Locomotion of High Decerebrate Cats
J Neurophysiol,
August 1, 2008;
100(2):
907 - 921.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Buhl, K. Schildberger, and P. A. Stevenson
A muscarinic cholinergic mechanism underlies activation of the central pattern generator for locust flight
J. Exp. Biol.,
July 15, 2008;
211(14):
2346 - 2357.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. T. Gordon and P. J. Whelan
Brainstem modulation of locomotion in the neonatal mouse spinal cord
J. Physiol.,
May 15, 2008;
586(10):
2487 - 2497.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. E. Musselman and J. F. Yang
Loading the Limb During Rhythmic Leg Movements Lengthens the Duration of Both Flexion and Extension in Human Infants
J Neurophysiol,
February 1, 2007;
97(2):
1247 - 1257.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. Lavrov, Y. P. Gerasimenko, R. M. Ichiyama, G. Courtine, H. Zhong, R. R. Roy, and V. R. Edgerton
Plasticity of Spinal Cord Reflexes After a Complete Transection in Adult Rats: Relationship to Stepping Ability
J Neurophysiol,
October 1, 2006;
96(4):
1699 - 1710.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Marina, M. Taheri, and M. P. Gilbey
Generation of a physiological sympathetic motor rhythm in the rat following spinal application of 5-HT
J. Physiol.,
March 1, 2006;
571(2):
441 - 450.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. R. McDearmid and P. Drapeau
Rhythmic Motor Activity Evoked by NMDA in the Spinal Zebrafish Larva
J Neurophysiol,
January 1, 2006;
95(1):
401 - 417.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. C. Cowley, E. Zaporozhets, J. N. MacLean, and B. J. Schmidt
Is NMDA Receptor Activation Essential for the Production of Locomotor-Like Activity in the Neonatal Rat Spinal Cord?
J Neurophysiol,
December 1, 2005;
94(6):
3805 - 3814.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Yakovenko, D. A. McCrea, K. Stecina, and A. Prochazka
Control of Locomotor Cycle Durations
J Neurophysiol,
August 1, 2005;
94(2):
1057 - 1065.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X. Dai, B. R. Noga, J. R. Douglas, and L. M. Jordan
Localization of Spinal Neurons Activated During Locomotion Using the c-fos Immunohistochemical Method
J Neurophysiol,
June 1, 2005;
93(6):
3442 - 3452.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Giroux, C. Chau, H. Barbeau, T. A. Reader, and S. Rossignol
Effects of Intrathecal Glutamatergic Drugs on Locomotion. II. NMDA and AP-5 in Intact and Late Spinal Cats
J Neurophysiol,
August 1, 2003;
90(2):
1027 - 1045.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Alford, E. Schwartz, and G. V. Di Prisco
The Pharmacology of Vertebrate Spinal Central Pattern Generators
Neuroscientist,
June 1, 2003;
9(3):
217 - 228.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Chau, N. Giroux, H. Barbeau, L. Jordan, and S. Rossignol
Effects of Intrathecal Glutamatergic Drugs on Locomotion I. NMDA in Short-Term Spinal Cats
J Neurophysiol,
December 1, 2002;
88(6):
3032 - 3045.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. N. MacLean and B. J. Schmidt
Voltage-Sensitivity of Motoneuron NMDA Receptor Channels Is Modulated by Serotonin in the Neonatal Rat Spinal Cord
J Neurophysiol,
September 1, 2001;
86(3):
1131 - 1138.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. R. Buss and P. Drapeau
Synaptic Drive to Motoneurons During Fictive Swimming in the Developing Zebrafish
J Neurophysiol,
July 1, 2001;
86(1):
197 - 210.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Giroux, T. A. Reader, and S. Rossignol
Comparison of the Effect of Intrathecal Administration of Clonidine and Yohimbine on the Locomotion of Intact and Spinal Cats
J Neurophysiol,
June 1, 2001;
85(6):
2516 - 2536.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. C. Rekling, G. D. Funk, D. A. Bayliss, X.-W. Dong, and J. L. Feldman
Synaptic Control of Motoneuronal Excitability
Physiol Rev,
April 1, 2000;
80(2):
767 - 852.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Saltiel, M. C. Tresch, and E. Bizzi
Spinal Cord Modular Organization and Rhythm Generation: An NMDA Iontophoretic Study in the Frog
J Neurophysiol,
November 1, 1998;
80(5):
2323 - 2339.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. Kjaerulff and O. Kiehn
Crossed Rhythmic Synaptic Input to Motoneurons during Selective Activation of the Contralateral Spinal Locomotor Network
J. Neurosci.,
December 15, 1997;
17(24):
9433 - 9447.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. V. Di Prisco, E. Pearlstein, R. Robitaille, and R. Dubuc
Role of Sensory-Evoked NMDA Plateau Potentials in the Initiation of Locomotion
Science,
November 7, 1997;
278(5340):
1122 - 1125.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Yen and R. G. Kalb
Review : Recovery from Spinal Cord Injury: New Approaches
Neuroscientist,
November 1, 1995;
1(6):
321 - 327.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
