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The Journal of Neuroscience, November 26, 2008, 28(48):12982-12992; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3330-08.2008

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Behavioral/Systems/Cognitive
Shared versus Specialized Glycinergic Spinal Interneurons in Axial Motor Circuits of Larval Zebrafish

James C. Liao and Joseph R. Fetcho

Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853

Correspondence should be addressed to Joseph R. Fetcho, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. Email: jrf49{at}cornell.edu

The neuronal networks in spinal cord can produce a diverse array of motor behaviors. In aquatic vertebrates such as fishes and tadpoles, these include escape behaviors, swimming across a range of speeds, and struggling. We addressed the question of whether these behaviors are accomplished by a shared set of spinal interneurons activated in different patterns or, instead, involve specialized spinal interneurons that may shape the motor output to produce particular behaviors. We used larval zebrafish because they are capable of several distinct axial motor behaviors using a common periphery and a relatively small set of spinal neurons, easing the task of exploring the extent to which cell types are specialized for particular motor patterns. We performed targeted in vivo whole-cell patch recordings in 3 d post fertilization larvae to reveal the activity pattern of four commissural glycinergic interneuron types during escape, swimming and struggling behaviors. While some neuronal classes were shared among different motor patterns, we found others that were active only during a single one. These specialized neurons had morphological and functional properties consistent with a role in shaping key features of the motor behavior in which they were active. Our results, in combination with other evidence from excitatory interneurons, support the idea that patterns of activity in a core network of shared spinal neurons may be shaped by more specialized interneurons to produce an assortment of motor behaviors.

Key words: zebrafish; glycinergic spinal interneurons; axial motor patterns; spinal cord; motor; central pattern generator

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Received July 16, 2008; revised Oct. 19, 2008; accepted Oct. 22, 2008.

Correspondence should be addressed to Joseph R. Fetcho, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. Email: jrf49{at}cornell.edu

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. L. McLean and J. R. Fetcho Spinal Interneurons Differentiate Sequentially from Those Driving the Fastest Swimming Movements in Larval Zebrafish to Those Driving the Slowest Ones J. Neurosci., October 28, 2009; 29(43): 13566 - 13577. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Satou, Y. Kimura, T. Kohashi, K. Horikawa, H. Takeda, Y. Oda, and S.-i. Higashijima Functional Role of a Specialized Class of Spinal Commissural Inhibitory Neurons during Fast Escapes in Zebrafish J. Neurosci., May 27, 2009; 29(21): 6780 - 6793. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. A. Crone, G. Zhong, R. Harris-Warrick, and K. Sharma In Mice Lacking V2a Interneurons, Gait Depends on Speed of Locomotion J. Neurosci., May 27, 2009; 29(21): 7098 - 7109. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Frigon Reconfiguration of the Spinal Interneuronal Network During Locomotion in Vertebrates J Neurophysiol, May 1, 2009; 101(5): 2201 - 2203. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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