Open AccessPrimary and secondary motoneurons use different calcium channel types to control escape and swimming behaviors in zebrafish
Author(s) -
Wen Hua,
Kazumi H Eckenstein,
Vivien Weihrauch,
Christian Stigloher,
Paul Brehm
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2015866117
Subject(s) - neuroscience , neurotransmission , postsynaptic potential , zebrafish , biology , calcium channel , synapse , electrophysiology , calcium , chemistry , receptor , genetics , organic chemistry , gene
The escape response and rhythmic swimming in zebrafish are distinct behaviors mediated by two functionally distinct motoneuron (Mn) types. The primary (1°Mn) type depresses and has a large quantal content (Qc) and a high release probability (Pr). Conversely, the secondary (2°Mn) type facilitates and has low and variable Qc and Pr. This functional duality matches well the distinct associated behaviors, with the 1°Mn providing the strong, singular C bend initiating escape and the 2°Mn conferring weaker, rhythmic contractions. Contributing to these functional distinctions is our identification of P/Q-type calcium channels mediating transmitter release in 1°Mns and N-type channels in 2°Mns. Remarkably, despite these functional and behavioral distinctions, all ∼15 individual synapses on each muscle cell are shared by a 1°Mn bouton and at least one 2°Mn bouton. This blueprint of synaptic sharing provides an efficient way of controlling two different behaviors at the level of a single postsynaptic cell.