Optogenetic-mediated increases in in vivo spontaneous activity disrupt pool-specific but not dorsal-ventral motoneuron pathfinding.

ABSTRACT: Rhythmic waves of spontaneous electrical activity are widespread in the developing nervous systems of birds and mammals, and although many aspects of neural development are activity-dependent, it has been unclear if rhythmic waves are required for in vivo motor circuit development, including the proper targeting of motoneurons to muscles. We show here that electroporated channelrhodopsin-2 can be activated in ovo with light flashes to drive waves at precise intervals of approximately twice the control frequency in intact chicken embryos. Optical monitoring of associated axial movements ensured that the altered frequency was maintained. In embryos thus stimulated, motor axons correctly executed the binary dorsal-ventral pathfinding decision but failed to make the subsequent pool-specific de

SUBMITTER: Kastanenka KV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3808638 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature