Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) mediate effects of acetylcholine (ACh) in many systems, including those involved in locomotion. In the stage 37/38 Xenopus laevis tadpole, a well-understood model system of vertebrate locomotion, mAChRs have been found to be located on motor neurons with evidence suggesting that mAChRs are involved in swimming behaviour. The current study aimed to further investigate the role of mAChR-mediated cholinergic transmission by employing extracellular and whole-cell patch clamp recordings to examine the effects of mAChR activation on the properties of different types of neurons in the Xenopus laevis tadpole swimming circuit. It was found that mAChR activation can increase the threshold for initiating swimming by skin stimulation and can lead to the generation of spontaneous motor output in the absence of physical stimuli. These effects were found to be a result of direct inhibition of dorsolateral sensory interneurons of the mechanosensory pathway, direct inhibition of glycinergic inhibitory interneurons in the CPG and a decrease in CPG neuron firing reliability during swimming. The data presented here comprise the first whole-cell patch-clamp investigation into mAChR-mediated cholinergic transmission in the Xenopus laevis tadpole swimming circuit and provide novel evidence that mAChRs modulate the properties of mechanosensory pathway and CPG neurons in this model system of vertebrate locomotion.

A deeper understanding of both movement control and the effects of nociceptor inputs on our motor systems is critical for proper clinical diagnosis of musculo-skeletal dysfunctions and for development of novel rehabilitation schemes. In the jaw system, masticatory movements are produced by a central pattern generator (CPG) located in the brainstem. Considerable efforts have been made in deciphering this neuronal network. The present thesis contributes towards an increasingly detailed understanding of its essential elements, and presents a hypothesis of how deep somatic pain (i.e. muscle pain) may be evoked and interferes with the masticatory CPG circuitry. In Paper I, the expression of c-Fos-like protein was used as a molecular marker to visualize brainstem neurons that were active during induced fictive mastication in the anesthetized and paralyzed rabbit. Our findings provide a previously lacking detailed record of the neuronal populations that form the masticatory motor pattern. Certain cells were located in brainstem areas previously suggested to be involved in the masticatory CPG. However, it was a new finding that neurons in the dorsal part of the trigeminal main sensory nucleus (NVsnpr-d) may belong to this circuitry. Paper II focused on the discovered neurons in NVsnpr in an in vitro slice preparation from young rats.  Intracellular recordings allowed us to define two cell types based on their response to depolarizing current. Microstimulation applied to the trigeminal motor nucleus, its reticular border, the parvocellular reticular formation and the nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis, elicited postsynaptic potentials in 81% of the neurons tested. Responses obtained were predominately excitatory and sensitive to gluta-matergic antagonists DNQX or/and APV. Some inhibitory and biphasic responses were also evoked. Bicuculline methiodide or strychnine blocked the IPSPs indicating that they were mediated by GABAA or glycinergic receptors. About one third of the stimulations activated both types of neurons antidromically. Neurons in NVsnpr-d seem to gather all the conditions that can theoretically account for a role in masticatory rhythm generation. In Paper III, the masticatory model system was used to investigate the possible role of muscle spindle primary afferents in development of persistent musculoskeletal pain. Following intramuscular acidic (pH 4.0) saline injections of rat masseter muscles, in vitro whole cell recordings were done from jaw closing muscle spindle somata located in the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus (NVmes). Compared to control neurons, the somata of afferents exposed to acid had more hyperpolarized membrane potentials, more hyperpolarized thresholds for firing, high frequency membrane oscillations and ectopic bursting of action potentials. These changes in membrane properties lasted for up to 35 days. Within the same time frame experi-mental animals showed hypersensitivity to touch on the skin covering the injected muscle. Similar saline injections also resulted in a significant increase of activity dependent c-Fos expression in NVmes neurons compared to controls. Immuno-fluorescence and lectin binding studies indicated that small-caliber muscle afferents containing known nociceptor markers (CGRP, SP, P2X3, TRPV1 and IB4) and expressing glutamate receptors are found close to the annulo-spiral endings of the NVmes afferents. Combined, our new observations support the hypothesis that excessive release of glutamate, within muscle spindles due to ectopically evoked antidromic action potentials, could lead to development of persistent musculoskeletal pain by activation and/ or sensitization of adjacent muscle afferent nociceptors.

These studies compare neurotransmitter localization and the behavioral functions of homologous neurons in nudibranch molluscs to determine the types of changes that might underlie the evolution of species-specific behaviors. Serotonin (5-HT) immunohistochemistry in eleven nudibranch species indicated that certain groups of 5 HT-immunoreactive neurons, such as the Cerebral Serotonergic Posterior (CeSP) cluster, are present in all species. However, the locations and numbers of many other 5 HT-immunoreactive neurons were variable. Thus, particular parts of the serotonergic system have changed during the evolution of nudibranchs. To test whether the functions of homologous neurons are phylogenetically variable, comparisons were made in species with divergent behaviors. In Tritonia diomedea, which crawls and also swims via dorsal-ventral body flexions, the CeSP cluster includes the Dorsal Swim Interneurons (DSIs). It was previously shown that the DSIs are members of the swim central pattern generator (CPG); they are rhythmically active during swimming and, along with their neurotransmitter 5-HT, are necessary and sufficient for swimming. It was also known that the DSIs excite efferent neurons used in crawling. DSI homologues, the CeSP-A neurons, were identified in six species that do not exhibit dorsal-ventral swimming. Many physiological characteristics, including excitation of putative crawling neurons were conserved, but the CeSP A neurons were not rhythmically active in any of the six species. In the lateral flexion swimmer, Melibe leonina, the CeSP-A neurons and 5-HT, were sufficient, but not necessary, for swimming. Thus, homologous neurons, and their neurotransmitter, have functionally diverged in species with different behaviors. Homologous neurons in species with similar behaviors also exhibited functional divergence. Like Melibe, Dendronotus iris is a lateral flexion swimmer. Swim interneuron 1 (Si1) is in the Melibe swim CPG. However, its putative homologue in Dendronotus, the Cerebral Posterior ipsilateral Pedal (CPiP) neuron, was not rhythmically active during swim-like motor patterns, but could initiate such a motor pattern. Together, these studies suggest that neurons have changed their functional relationships to neural circuits during the evolution of species-specific behaviors and have functionally diverged even in species that exhibit similar behaviors.

Neuroprosthetics is at the intersection of neuroscience, biomedical engineering, and physics. A biocompatible neuroprosthesis contains artificial neurons exhibiting biophysically plausible dynamics. Hybrid systems analysis could be used to prototype such artificial neurons. Biohybrid systems are composed of artificial and living neurons coupled via real-time computing and dynamic clamp. Model neurons must be thoroughly tested before coupled with a living cell. We use bifurcation theory to identify hazardous regimes of activity that may compromise biocompatibility and to identify control strategies for regimes of activity desirable for functional behavior. We construct real-time artificial neurons for the analysis of hybrid systems and demonstrate a mechanism through which an artificial neuron could maintain duty cycle independent of variations in period.

Neuronal networks produce reliable functional output throughout the lifespan of an animal despite ceaseless molecular turnover and a constantly changing environment. The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the ability of these networks to maintain functional stability remain poorly understood. Central pattern generating circuits produce a stable, predictable rhythm, making them ideal candidates for studying mechanisms of activity maintenance. By identifying and characterizing the regulators of activity in small neuronal circuits, we not only obtain a clearer understanding of how neural activity is generated, but also arm ourselves with knowledge that may eventually be used to improve medical care for patients whose normal nervous system activity has been disrupted through trauma or disease. We utilize the pattern-generating pyloric circuit in the crustacean stomatogastric nervous system to investigate the general scientific question: How are specific aspects of rhythmic activity regulated in a small neuronal network? The first aim of this thesis poses this question in the context of a single neuron. We used a single-compartment model neuron database to investigate whether co-regulation of ionic conductances supports the maintenance of spike phase in rhythmically bursting “pacemaker” neurons. The second aim of the project extends the question to a network context. Through a combination of computational and electrophysiology studies, we investigated how the intrinsic membrane conductances of the pacemaker neuron influence its response to synaptic input within the framework of the Phase Resetting Curve (PRC). The third aim of the project further extends the question to a systems-level context. We examined how ambient temperatures affect the stability of the pyloric rhythm in the intact, behaving animal. The results of this work have furthered our understanding of the principles underlying the long-term stability of neuronal network function.

Le mouvement masticatoire est généré et coordonné par un générateur de patron central (GPC) situé au niveau du pont. Plusieurs résultats antérieurs de notre laboratoire soutiennent que le réseau de neurones à l’origine de la rythmogénèse est situé dans le noyau sensoriel principal du nerf trijumeau (NVsnpr). Ces mêmes expériences révèlent que des diminutions de la concentration calcique extracellulaire ([Ca2+]e) tiennent une place importante dans la génération des bouffées de décharges des neurones de cette région. Notre laboratoire tente de vérifier si la contribution des astrocytes à l’homéostasie de la concentration calcique extracellulaire est impliquée dans la genèse du rythme. Cette étude a pour but la caractérisation spatiale du syncytium astrocytaire au sein du NVsnpr dorsal et l’étude de l’effet de la [Ca2+]e sur les propriétés astrocytaires électrophysiologiques et de connectivité. Nous avons utilisés pour ce faire la technique d’enregistrement par patch-clamp sur une préparation en tranche de tronc cérébral de rat. Nous démontrons ici que la diminution de la [Ca2+]e n’affecte pas les propriétés électrophysiologiques astrocytaires, mais induit une augmentation de la taille du syncytium. De plus, nous établissons l’existence au sein du NVsnpr dorsal d’une organisation anatomofonctionnelle du réseau astrocytaire calquée sur l’organisation neuronale. / The masticatory movement is generated and coordinated by a central pattern generator (CPG) located in the pons. Previous results from our laboratory suggest that the neural network responsible for its rythmogenesis is located in the trigeminal main sensory nucleus (NVsnpr). Moreover, results indicate that in this region, decrease in extracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]e) plays an important role in genarating burst. One of our laboratory's goal is to assess if the contribution of astrocytes to the extracellular calcium concentration homeostasis is involved in the genesis of the mastication rhythm. With this study, we characterized the astrocyte syncytium within the NVsnpr and measured the effect of [Ca2+]e on the astrocytes electrophysiology and their networks. A patch-clamp recording technique in conjunction with a rat brain stem slice preparation was used. We demonstrate that a decrease in [Ca2+]e does not affect the electrophysiological properties of astrocytes but induces an increase in the size of the syncytium. We also report the existence, within the dorsal NVsnpr, of an anatomofunctional organization between neurons and astrocytes.

Les CPGs (Central Pattern Generators) sont des circuits neuronaux capables de générer de façon autonome des comportements rythmiques essentiels à la vie tels que la respiration ou la locomotion. Chez la larve de Drosophile, le CPG locomoteur est composé de motoneurones (MNs) et d’une grande diversité d’interneurones (INs). Combien d’entre eux sont nécessaires pour former une CPG fonctionnel et comment ils interagissent reste un mystère. Au cours de mon doctorat, j’ai étudié une population neuronale restreinte caractérisée par son expression du facteur de transcription (FT) de la famille des Maf, Traffic Jam (TJ). En utilisant une technique d’intersection génétique et grâce à une lignée TJ-Flp générée au cours de mon doctorat, j’ai démontré pour la première fois que différentes sous-populations de neurones TJ+ ont des fonctions distinctes dans le comportement locomoteur de la larve de Drosophile. Au travers de cette sous-division fonctionnelle, j’ai finalement identifié 3 neurones TJ+ per+ GABAergic par segment qui régulent la vitesse de locomotion des larves. Une caractérisation moléculaire poussée de ces cellules a permis de confirmer qu’elles appartiennent au groupe connu des « midline cells », et plus particulièrement des mnb progeny, dont la fonction était jusqu’à maintenant inconnue. Par ailleurs, le code combinatoire de FTs trouvé chez ces mnb progeny rappelle celui exprimé par les V2b, une population d’interneurones qui régulerait également la vitesse de locomotion chez les vertébrés. Ces similarités entre mnb progeny et V2b laissent à penser que cette population de neurones pourrait être conservée au cours de l’évolution. En outre, des résultats préliminaires suggèrent que les interneurones TJ+ ont également un rôle chez la mouche adulte. / CPGs (Central Pattern Generators) are neural networks able to autonomously generate essential rhythmic behaviours such as walking or breathing. In Drosophila larvae, the locomotor CPG is made up of motoneurons (MNs) and a huge variety of interneurons (INs). How many are actually necessary to constitute a functional CPG and how they interact is not known. During the course of this PhD, I studied a discrete neuronal population singled out by its expression of the Maf transcription factor (TF) Traffic Jam (TJ). Thanks to an intersectional genetics approach and a TJ-Flp line generated during my PhD, I showed for the first time that TJ+ neurons subpopulations have distinct functions in Drosophila larva locomotion. Functional subdivision of TJ+ population eventually led to the identification of 3 TJ+ per+ GABAergic neurons that regulate the speed of locomotion. Thorough molecular characterization of this population permitted to identify them as mnb progeny neurons, a well studied subgroup of midline cells whose function had never been described before. The TF combinatorial code expressed by these cells is highly reminiscent of the one found in V2b INs, a population in vertebrates thought to regulate the speed of locomotion as well in vertebrates; this opens the possibility of a functional conservation across evolution. Preliminary results furthermore suggest that TJ+ INs would have functional roles in the adult fly.

No description available.

This paper deals with the design of a robotic snake, its assembly, simulation using CoppeliaSim, and the testing of various methods for the control of robotic snakes (Serpentinoid, CPG). For individual control methods, the influence of selected parameters on the signals controlling the motorized joints of the robotic snake is observed, and their influence on the speed and energy consumption of the given mechanism is described.

No description available.