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Brainstem nucleus MdV mediates skilled forelimb motor tasks

Author

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  • Maria Soledad Esposito

    (Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel 4056, Switzerland
    Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel 4058, Switzerland)

  • Paolo Capelli

    (Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel 4056, Switzerland
    Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel 4058, Switzerland)

  • Silvia Arber

    (Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel 4056, Switzerland
    Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel 4058, Switzerland)

Abstract

Translating the behavioural output of the nervous system into movement involves interaction between brain and spinal cord. The brainstem provides an essential bridge between the two structures, but circuit-level organization and function of this intermediary system remain poorly understood. Here we use intersectional virus tracing and genetic strategies in mice to reveal a selective synaptic connectivity matrix between brainstem substructures and functionally distinct spinal motor neurons that regulate limb movement. The brainstem nucleus medullary reticular formation ventral part (MdV) stands out as specifically targeting subpopulations of forelimb-innervating motor neurons. Its glutamatergic premotor neurons receive synaptic input from key upper motor centres and are recruited during motor tasks. Selective neuronal ablation or silencing experiments reveal that MdV is critically important specifically for skilled motor behaviour, including accelerating rotarod and single-food-pellet reaching tasks. Our results indicate that distinct premotor brainstem nuclei access spinal subcircuits to mediate task-specific aspects of motor programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Soledad Esposito & Paolo Capelli & Silvia Arber, 2014. "Brainstem nucleus MdV mediates skilled forelimb motor tasks," Nature, Nature, vol. 508(7496), pages 351-356, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:508:y:2014:i:7496:d:10.1038_nature13023
    DOI: 10.1038/nature13023
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    Cited by:

    1. Najet Serradj & Francesca Marino & Yunuen Moreno-López & Amanda Bernstein & Sydney Agger & Marwa Soliman & Andrew Sloan & Edmund Hollis, 2023. "Task-specific modulation of corticospinal neuron activity during motor learning in mice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Weiwei Guo & Sijia Fan & Dan Xiao & Hui Dong & Guangwei Xu & Zhikun Wan & Yuqian Ma & Zhen Wang & Tian Xue & Yifeng Zhou & Yulong Li & Wei Xiong, 2021. "A Brainstem reticulotegmental neural ensemble drives acoustic startle reflexes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Sravani Kondapavulur & Stefan M. Lemke & David Darevsky & Ling Guo & Preeya Khanna & Karunesh Ganguly, 2022. "Transition from predictable to variable motor cortex and striatal ensemble patterning during behavioral exploration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-17, December.

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