Defining classes of spinal interneuron and their axonal projections in hatchling Xenopus laevis tadpoles. 2001

W C Li, and R Perrins, and S R Soffe, and M Yoshida, and A Walford, and A Roberts
School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, United Kingdom.

Neurobiotin was injected into individual spinal interneurons in the Xenopus tadpole to discern their anatomical features and complete axonal projection patterns. Four classes of interneuron are described, with names defining their primary axon projection: Dorsolateral ascending and commissural interneurons are predominantly multipolar cells with somata and dendrites exclusively in the dorsal half of the spinal cord. Ascending interneurons have unipolar somata located in the dorsal half, but their main dendrites are located in the ventral half of the spinal cord. Descending interneurons show bigger variance in their anatomy, but the majority are unipolar, and they all have a descending primary axon. Dorsolateral commissural interneurons are clearly defined using established criteria, but the others are not, so cluster analysis was used. Clear discriminations can be made, and criteria are established to characterize the three classes of interneuron with ipsilateral axonal projections. With identifying criteria established, the distribution and axonal projection patterns of the four classes of interneuron are described. By using data from gamma-aminobutyric acid immunocytochemistry, the distribution of the population of ascending interneurons is defined. Together with the results from the axonal projection data, this allows the ascending interneuron axon distribution along the spinal cord to be estimated. By making simple assumptions and using existing information about the soma distributions of the other interneurons, estimates of their axon distributions are made. The possible functional roles of the four interneuron classes are discussed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007395 Interneurons Most generally any NEURONS which are not motor or sensory. Interneurons may also refer to neurons whose AXONS remain within a particular brain region in contrast to projection neurons, which have axons projecting to other brain regions. Intercalated Neurons,Intercalated Neuron,Interneuron,Neuron, Intercalated,Neurons, Intercalated
D007814 Larva Wormlike or grublike stage, following the egg in the life cycle of insects, worms, and other metamorphosing animals. Maggots,Tadpoles,Larvae,Maggot,Tadpole
D009435 Synaptic Transmission The communication from a NEURON to a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell) across a SYNAPSE. In chemical synaptic transmission, the presynaptic neuron releases a NEUROTRANSMITTER that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific synaptic receptors, activating them. The activated receptors modulate specific ion channels and/or second-messenger systems in the postsynaptic cell. In electrical synaptic transmission, electrical signals are communicated as an ionic current flow across ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Neural Transmission,Neurotransmission,Transmission, Neural,Transmission, Synaptic
D004525 Efferent Pathways Nerve structures through which impulses are conducted from a nerve center toward a peripheral site. Such impulses are conducted via efferent neurons (NEURONS, EFFERENT), such as MOTOR NEURONS, autonomic neurons, and hypophyseal neurons. Motor Pathways,Efferent Pathway,Pathway, Efferent,Pathways, Efferent
D000344 Afferent Pathways Nerve structures through which impulses are conducted from a peripheral part toward a nerve center. Afferent Pathway,Pathway, Afferent,Pathways, Afferent
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001369 Axons Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body. Axon
D013116 Spinal Cord A cylindrical column of tissue that lies within the vertebral canal. It is composed of WHITE MATTER and GRAY MATTER. Coccygeal Cord,Conus Medullaris,Conus Terminalis,Lumbar Cord,Medulla Spinalis,Myelon,Sacral Cord,Thoracic Cord,Coccygeal Cords,Conus Medullari,Conus Terminali,Cord, Coccygeal,Cord, Lumbar,Cord, Sacral,Cord, Spinal,Cord, Thoracic,Cords, Coccygeal,Cords, Lumbar,Cords, Sacral,Cords, Spinal,Cords, Thoracic,Lumbar Cords,Medulla Spinali,Medullari, Conus,Medullaris, Conus,Myelons,Sacral Cords,Spinal Cords,Spinali, Medulla,Spinalis, Medulla,Terminali, Conus,Terminalis, Conus,Thoracic Cords
D014982 Xenopus laevis The commonest and widest ranging species of the clawed "frog" (Xenopus) in Africa. This species is used extensively in research. There is now a significant population in California derived from escaped laboratory animals. Platanna,X. laevis,Platannas,X. laevi

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