QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (39) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Marcoux, J. Articles by Rossignol, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Marcoux, J. Articles by Rossignol, S.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

The Journal of Neuroscience, November 15, 2000, 20(22):8577-8585

Initiating or Blocking Locomotion in Spinal Cats by Applying Noradrenergic Drugs to Restricted Lumbar Spinal Segments

Judith Marcoux and Serge Rossignol

Centre de Recherche en Sciences Neurologiques, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3T 1J4

After an acute low thoracic spinal transection (T13), cats can be made to walk with the hindlimbs on a treadmill with clonidine, an 2-noradrenergic agonist. Because previous studies of neonatal rat spinal cord in vitro suggest that the most important lumbar segments for rhythmogenesis are L1-L2, we investigated the role of various lumbar segments in the initiation of walking movements on a treadmill of adult cats spinalized (T13), 5-6 d earlier. The locomotor activities were evaluated from electromyographic and video recordings. The results show that: (1) localized topical application of clonidine in restricted baths over either the L3-L4 or the L5-L7 segments was sufficient to induce walking movements. Yohimbine, an 2-noradrenergic antagonist, could block this locomotion when applied over L3-L4 or L5-L7; (2) microinjections of clonidine in one or two lumbar segments from L3 to L5 could also induce locomotion; (3) after an intravenous injection of clonidine, locomotion was blocked by microinjections of yohimbine in segments L3, L4, or L5 but not if the injection was in L6; (4) locomotion was also blocked in all cases by additional spinal transections at L3 or L4. These results show that it is possible to initiate walking in the adult spinal cat with a pharmacological stimulation of a restricted number of lumbar segments and also that the integrity of the L3-L4 segments is necessary to sustain the locomotor activity.

Key words: spinal locomotion; central pattern generator; rhythm generation; midlumbar spinal cord; noradrenergic drugs; electromyography; kinematics

---

Copyright © 2000 Society for Neuroscience  0270-6474/00/20228577-09$05.00/0

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. P. Lapointe, R.-V. Ung, P. Rouleau, and P. A. Guertin Effects of Spinal {alpha}2-Adrenoceptor and I1-Imidazoline Receptor Activation on Hindlimb Movement Induction in Spinal Cord-Injured Mice J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., June 1, 2008; 325(3): 994 - 1006. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Barthelemy, H. Leblond, and S. Rossignol Characteristics and Mechanisms of Locomotion Induced by Intraspinal Microstimulation and Dorsal Root Stimulation in Spinal Cats J Neurophysiol, March 1, 2007; 97(3): 1986 - 2000. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Barthelemy, H. Leblond, J. Provencher, and S. Rossignol Nonlocomotor and Locomotor Hindlimb Responses Evoked by Electrical Microstimulation of the Lumbar Cord in Spinalized Cats J Neurophysiol, December 1, 2006; 96(6): 3273 - 3292. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Rossignol, R. Dubuc, and J.-P. Gossard Dynamic Sensorimotor Interactions in Locomotion Physiol Rev, January 1, 2006; 86(1): 89 - 154. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Saltiel, K. Wyler-Duda, A. d'Avella, R. J. Ajemian, and E. Bizzi Localization and Connectivity in Spinal Interneuronal Networks: The Adduction-Caudal Extension-Flexion Rhythm in the Frog J Neurophysiol, September 1, 2005; 94(3): 2120 - 2138. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Wilson, R. Hartley, D. J. Maxwell, A. J. Todd, I. Lieberam, J. A. Kaltschmidt, Y. Yoshida, T. M. Jessell, and R. M. Brownstone Conditional Rhythmicity of Ventral Spinal Interneurons Defined by Expression of the Hb9 Homeodomain Protein J. Neurosci., June 15, 2005; 25(24): 5710 - 5719. [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]

				C. Langlet, H. Leblond, and S. Rossignol Mid-Lumbar Segments Are Needed for the Expression of Locomotion in Chronic Spinal Cats J Neurophysiol, May 1, 2005; 93(5): 2474 - 2488. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. R. Noga, A. Pinzon, R. P. Mesigil, and I. D. Hentall Steady-State Levels of Monoamines in the Rat Lumbar Spinal Cord: Spatial Mapping and the Effect of Acute Spinal Cord Injury J Neurophysiol, July 1, 2004; 92(1): 567 - 577. [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. Rossignol Locomotion and its Recovery after Spinal Injury in Animal Models Neurorehabil Neural Repair, June 1, 2002; 16(2): 201 - 206. [PDF]

				S. Yakovenko, V. Mushahwar, V. VanderHorst, G. Holstege, and A. Prochazka Spatiotemporal Activation of Lumbosacral Motoneurons in the Locomotor Step Cycle J Neurophysiol, March 1, 2002; 87(3): 1542 - 1553. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Berkowitz Rhythmicity of Spinal Neurons Activated During Each Form of Fictive Scratching in Spinal Turtles J Neurophysiol, August 1, 2001; 86(2): 1026 - 1036. [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]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help