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1 Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
2 Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: takay{at}ualberta.ca.
EphA4 receptors play an important role in axon guidance during development. Disrupting the expression of these receptors in mice has been shown to modify neuronal connections in the spinal cord and results in the production of a characteristic hopping gait. The EphA4-null mouse has been used in numerous investigations aimed at establishing mechanisms responsible for patterning motor activity during walking. However, there have been no detailed behavioral or electrophysiological studies on adult EphA4-null mice. We used high-speed video recordings to determine the coordination of leg movements during locomotion in adult EphA4-null mice. The hopping movements of the hind legs are not always associated with synchronous movements of forelegs. The coupling between the forelegs is weak, resulting in changes in their phase relationship from step to step. The synchronous coordination of the hind legs can switch to an alternating pattern for a short period of time during recovery from isoflurane anesthesia. Comparison of the kinematics of hind leg movements in EphA4-null mice and wild-type animals shows that the swing durations and the swing amplitudes are shorter. Electromyographic recordings from a knee extensor show double bursting in the EphA4-null animals but single bursts in wild-types. This changes to single burst activity during swimming and when hind legs are stepping in alternation. These observations suggest an influence of sensory feedback in shaping the pattern of muscle activity during locomotion in the mutant animals. Our data gives the first detailed description of the locomotor behavior of an adult mouse with genetically manipulated spinal networks.
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