IMR Press / FBL / Volume 18 / Issue 1 / DOI: 10.2741/4085

Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark (FBL) is published by IMR Press from Volume 26 Issue 5 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.

Review
Genetic analysis of left-right coordination of locomotion
Show Less
1 Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Box 593, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2013, 18(1), 21–35; https://doi.org/10.2741/4085
Published: 1 January 2013
Abstract

While there is a rather large amount of data from pharmacological and anatomical studies of the murine locomotor CPG network, comprehensive information regarding the cellular and functional properties of the neuronal populations is lacking. Here, we describe concepts arising from genetic studies of the locomotor network with a focus on commissural interneurons regulating left-right coordination. In particular, this involves several families of axon guidance molecules relevant for midline crossing. We also describe recent advances within the field of neural circuit analysis, including imaging, genetic inactivation and optogenetic strategies, which are applicable to locomotor circuits. Such efforts, for example by using available genetic markers, should substantially increase our possibilities to decipher the functionality of spinal cord neuronal networks.

Keywords
Neuronal network
Physiology
Central nervous system
Spinal cord
Central pattern generator
Review
Share
Back to top