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Spinal projections from the presumptive midbrain locomotor region in the mouse

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Abstract

The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) plays an important role in the control of locomotion, but there is ongoing debate about the anatomy of its connections with the spinal cord. In this study, we have examined the spinal projections of the mouse precuneiform nucleus (PrCnF), which lies within the boundaries of the presumptive MLR. We used both retrograde and anterograde labeling techniques. Small clusters of labeled neurons were seen in the medial portion of the PrCnF following fluoro-gold injections in the upper cervical spinal cord. Fewer labeled neurons were seen in the PrCnF after upper thoracic injections. Following the injection of anterograde tracer (biotinylated dextran amine) into the PrCnF, labeled fibers were clearly observed in the spinal cord. These fibers traveled in the ventral and lateral funiculi, and terminated mainly in the medial portions of laminae 7, 8, and 9, as well as area 10, with an ipsilateral predominance. Our observations indicate that projections from the PrCnF to the spinal cord may provide an anatomical substrate for the role of the MLR in locomotion.

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Abbreviations

3Sp:

Lamina 3 of the spinal gray

4Sp:

Lamina 4 of the spinal gray

5SpL:

Lamina 5 of the spinal gray, lateral part

5SpM:

Lamina 5 of the spinal gray, medial part

6SpL:

Lamina 6 of the spinal gray, lateral part

6SpM:

Lamina 6 of the spinal gray, medial part

7Sp:

Lamina 7 of the spinal gray

8Sp:

Lamina 8 of the spinal gray

10Sp:

Area 10 of the spinal gray

Aq:

Aqueduct

Ax9:

Axial muscle motoneurons of lamina 9

BDA:

Biotinylated dextran amine

Bi9:

Biceps motoneurons of lamina 9

CC:

Central canal

CeCv:

Central cervical nucleus

CEx9:

Crural extensor motoneurons of lamina 9

CFl9:

Crural flexor motoneurons of lamina 9

CnF:

Cuneiform nucleus

DAB:

3,3′-Diaminobenzidine

De9:

Deltoid muscle motoneurons of lamina 9

FEx9:

Forearm extensor motoneurons of lamina 9

FFl9:

Forearm flexor motoneurons of lamina 9

Gl9:

Gluteal motoneurons of lamina 9

Hm9:

Hamstring motoneurons of lamina 9

IB:

Internal basilar nucleus

ICl:

Intercalated nucleus

ICo9:

Intercostals muscle motoneurons of lamina 9

IH9:

Infrahyoid muscle motoneurons of lamina 9

IML:

Intermediolateral column

IMM:

Intermediomedial column

KF:

Kolliker-fuse nucleus

LatC:

Lateral cervical nucleus

LD9:

Latissimus dorsi motoneurons of lamina 9

LPAG:

Lateral periaqueductal gray

LSp:

Lateral spinal nucleus

M5:

Motor trigeminal nucleus

MLR:

Mesencephalic locomotor region

mRt:

Mesencephalic reticular formation

PAG:

Paeriaqueductal gray

PB:

Phosphate buffer

Pec9:

Pectoral muscle motoneurons of lamina 9

Ph9:

Phrenic motoneurons of lamina 9

PL:

Paralemniscal nucleus

Pn:

Pontine nuclei

PnO:

Oral part of pontine reticular nucleus

PrCnF:

Precuneiform nucleus

PTg:

Peduncular tegmental nucleus

Rh9:

Rhomboid muscle motoneurons of lamina 9

RtTg:

Reticulotegmental nucleus of the pons

SC:

Superior colliculus

SI9:

Supraspinatus and infraspinatus motoneurons of lamina 9

Sr9:

Serratus anterior motoneurons in lamina 9

SubCV:

Ventral part of the subcoeruleus nucleus

Tr9:

Triceps motoneurons of lamina 9

TzSM9:

Trap/sternom motoneurons of lamina 9

VLPAG:

Ventrolateral periaqueductal gray

WGA-HRP:

Wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr Yuhong Fu, Dr Yue Qi, Dr Erika Gyengesi and Mr Peter Zhao for their suggestions and technical support, and Dr Zoltan Rusznak for the manuscript corrections. This work was supported by The Christopher & Dana Reeve foundation and an NHMRC Australia Fellowship grant to Professor George Paxinos (466028).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia

    Huazheng Liang, George Paxinos & Charles Watson

  2. School of Medical Science, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Huazheng Liang & George Paxinos

  3. Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Shenton Park Health Research Campus, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia

    Charles Watson

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  1. Huazheng Liang
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  2. George Paxinos
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Correspondence to Charles Watson.

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Liang, H., Paxinos, G. & Watson, C. Spinal projections from the presumptive midbrain locomotor region in the mouse. Brain Struct Funct 217, 211–219 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-011-0337-6

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