Identification of excitatory premotor interneurons which regulate local muscle contraction during Drosophila larval locomotion.

ABSTRACT: We use Drosophila larval locomotion as a model to elucidate the working principles of motor circuits. Larval locomotion is generated by rhythmic and sequential contractions of body-wall muscles from the posterior to anterior segments, which in turn are regulated by motor neurons present in the corresponding neuromeres. Motor neurons are known to receive both excitatory and inhibitory inputs, combined action of which likely regulates patterned motor activity during locomotion. Although recent studies identified candidate inhibitory premotor interneurons, the identity of premotor interneurons that provide excitatory drive to motor neurons during locomotion remains unknown. In this study, we searched for and identified two putative excitatory premotor interneurons in this system, termed CLI1

SUBMITTER: Hasegawa E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4965782 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature