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J Neurophysiol (September 5, 2007). doi:10.1152/jn.00877.2007
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Submitted on August 7, 2007
Accepted on September 3, 2007

A central pattern generator producing alternative outputs: Pattern, strength and dynamics of premotor synaptic input to leech heart motor neurons

Brian J. Norris1, Adam L Weaver2, Angela Wenning3, Paul S. Garcia3, and Ronald L. Calabrese3*

1 Biology, California State University, San Marcos, San Marcos, California, United States; Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
2 Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States; Biology, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
3 Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ronald.calabrese{at}emory.edu.

The central pattern generator (CPG) for heartbeat in medicinal leeches comprises 7 identified pairs of segmental heart interneurons and one unidentified pair. Four of the identified pairs and the unidentified pair of interneurons make inhibitory synaptic connections with segmental heart motor neurons. The CPG produces a side-to-side asymmetric pattern of intersegmental coordination among ipsilateral premotor interneurons corresponding to a similarly asymmetric fictive motor pattern in heart motor neurons, and asymmetric constriction pattern of the two tubular hearts, synchronous and peristaltic (Wenning et al. 2004a; Wenning et al. 2004b). Using extracellular recordings from premotor interneurons and voltage-clamp recordings of ipsilateral segmental motor neurons in 69 isolated nerve cords, we assessed the strength and dynamics of premotor inhibitory synaptic output onto the entire ensemble of heart motor neurons and the associated conduction delays in both coordination modes. We conclude that premotor interneurons establish a stereotypical pattern of intersegmental synaptic connectivity, strengths, and dynamics that is invariant across coordination modes, despite wide variations among preparations. These data coupled with a previous description of the temporal pattern of premotor interneuron activity (Norris et al. 2006) and relative phasing of motor neuron activity (Norris et al. 2007) in the two coordination modes enable a direct assessment of how premotor interneurons through their temporal pattern of activity and their spatial pattern of synaptic connectivity, strengths, and dynamics coordinate segmental motor neurons into a functional pattern of activity.




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P. S. Garcia, T. M. Wright, I. R. Cunningham, and R. L. Calabrese
Using a Model to Assess the Role of the Spatiotemporal Pattern of Inhibitory Input and Intrasegmental Electrical Coupling in the Intersegmental and Side-to-Side Coordination of Motor Neurons by the Leech Heartbeat Central Pattern Generator
J Neurophysiol, September 1, 2008; 100(3): 1354 - 1371.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




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