Summary
This project aims to uncover the functional organization of the V1 group of spinal interneurons, specifically the Foxp2 clade, and their impact during the postnatal maturation of motor function.
Development of Synaptic Inputs on Spinal Interneurons
US · IL
NIH
grant
awarded
#nih-5R01NS047357-18
What they want
The work involves devising genetic strategies to identify, label, study, and modify activity of spinal interneurons, focusing on the V1 group and the Foxp2 clade. Aim 1: Anatomically study the connectivity of Foxp2-V1s with different motor pools and primary afferents, and the postnatal development of these connections using various viral approaches. Aim 2: Analyze whether Foxp2-V1s are the only sources of V1-IaINs and how reciprocal inhibition is affected by genetically silencing them. Aim 3: Reversibly silence these cells in neonate and adult animals during locomotor stepping and use chronic EMG recordings and kinematics to analyze their role in muscle activation selection during rhythmic motor behaviors.
Technical requirements
- Genetic strategies for identifying, labeling, studying, and modifying interneuron activity
- New animal models using intersectional genetics for combinatorial gene expression
- Use of fluorescent proteins or activity modulators
- Various viral approaches for anatomical studies
- Genetic silencing techniques
- Chronic EMG recordings
- Kinematics analysis
