A characterisation of last order interneurons of the rodent spinal cord with specific focus on their roles in the control of locomotor activity

自20世纪初以来，人们就知道哺乳动物脊髓内的神经元网络控制着运动。然而，我们对这些神经网络的了解非常有限。为了设计治疗瘫痪性损伤或脊髓疾病的方法，我们需要更好地了解控制运动的脊髓神经元网络。这首先需要识别构成这些网络的神经元。在对它们进行识别之后，我们需要研究这些神经元的个体特性，以及它们是如何相互连接以产生控制运动的活动的。拟议的研究旨在提供这些关键信息中的一些。分子技术将用于识别脊髓中特定的神经元群。利用这些技术，我们将能够专注于“最后一级中间神经元”，它直接与向肌肉发送最终信息的神经元（运动神经元）进行交流。在它们的鉴定之后，最后一阶中间神经元将在小鼠脊髓分离制剂的运动活动中进行研究。这将使我们能够研究特定组的最后一阶中间神经元在运动活动的产生中所起的作用。如上所述，这些信息对于我们理解运动的神经控制以及最终设计影响脊髓的损伤或疾病的治疗策略至关重要。

It has been known since the early 1900's that networks of neurons within the mammalian spinal cord control locomotion. However, our knowledge of these neuronal networks is very limited. In order to design treatments for paralysing injuries or diseases of the spinal cord, we need to gain a better understanding of the networks of spinal neurons that control movement. This initially requires the identification of neurons which make up these networks. Following their identification we need to study the individual properties of these neurons and how it is that they connect to each other to produce the activity which controls movement. The proposed study aims to provide some of this critical information. Molecular techniques will be used to identify specific populations of neurons in the spinal cord. Using these techniques we will be able to concentrate on 'last order interneurons' which communicate directly with the neurons that send the final message to muscles to contract (motoneurons). Following their identification, last order interneurons will be studied during locomotor activity in isolated preparations of the spinal cord obtained from mice. This will enable us to investigate the roles that specific groups of last order interneurons play in the production of locomotor activity. As outlined above this information is critical toward our understanding of the neural control of movement and ultimately towards the design of treatment strategies for injury or disease which affects the spinal cord.