Open AccessIntrinsic brainstem circuits comprised of Chx10-expressing neurons contribute to reticulospinal output in mice
Author(s) -
Jeremy W. Chopek,
Ying Zhang,
Robert M. Brownstone
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of neurophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 245
eISSN - 1522-1598
pISSN - 0022-3077
DOI - 10.1152/jn.00322.2021
Subject(s) - neuroscience , glutamatergic , brainstem , reticular formation , reticular connective tissue , spinal cord , nucleus , biology , glutamate receptor , anatomy , biochemistry , receptor
Reticulospinal neurons in the medullary reticular formation integrate inputs from higher regions to effectively instruct spinal motor circuits. Using photoactivation of neurons in brainstem slices, we studied connectivity of reticular formation neurons that express the transcriptional regulator, Chx10. We show that a subpopulation of these neurons functions as local interneurons that affect descending commands. The results shed light on the internal organization and microcircuit formation of reticular formation neurons.