Chapter 10 Propriospinal neurons involved in the control of locomotion: potential targets for repair strategies?

Abstract

This chapter discusses the functional roles of propriospinal neurons in the control of locomotion. propriospinal relay pathways contribute to descending central pattern generator network (CPG) activation. However, after cord transection, regrowth of short propriospinal connections across the transection may become critically important. Such links could compensate for the loss of direct bulbospinal projections to more caudal regions of the cord. To test the notion that propriospinal cells can relay a locomotor message descending from the brain, the synaptic transmission in the thoracic region of the isolated neonatal rat spinal cord is suppressed. The chapter discusses that coupling of motor rhythms between the cervical and lumbar regions can be disrupted. This implicates propriospinal cells in the relay of locomotor information between the cervical and lumbar enlargements. The results suggest that the propriospinal cells make a powerful contribution to the transmission of the descending message that activates the locomotor network.