Search results for "Motor neuron"
showing 10 items of 140 documents
Cortical stimulation and reflex excitability of spinal cord neurones in man.
1995
The H reflex technique was used to evaluate the influence exerted by cortical conditioning on the excitability of the alpha-motoneurone pool and on IA interneuronal activity (reciprocal inhibition). In ten subjects at absolute rest electrical and magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex was transcranially applied during flexor carpi radialis H reflex eliciting and in conditions of reciprocal inhibition induced by radial nerve stimulation. The time courses showed that at intensities below motor threshold, electrical brain conditioning induced an increase in the amplitude of the test reflex when the cortical shock was given 4 ms after the test H reflex. On the contrary, reciprocal inhibition …
Corticobulbar tract involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A transcranial magnetic stimulation study
1998
We investigated corticobulbar tract function by recording from the tongue and orofacial muscles and using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in 30 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in order to improve the diagnostic yield in the detection of subclinical upper motor neuron (UMN) dysfunction. A UMN lesion was assumed when the peripheral conduction time and amplitude of the M-wave were within normal range and either the response to cortical stimulation was absent, or the central conduction time was delayed (> mean + 2.5 SD). Only two patients showed clinical evidence of UMN involvement in the cranial nerves, while TMS demonstrated corticobulbar tract dysfunction in the oro…
Modeling the insect mushroom bodies: application to a delayed match-to-sample task.
2013
Despite their small brains, insects show advanced capabilities in learning and task solving. Flies, honeybees and ants are becoming a reference point in neuroscience and a main source of inspiration for autonomous robot design issues and control algorithms. In particular, honeybees demonstrate to be able to autonomously abstract complex associations and apply them in tasks involving different sensory modalities within the insect brain. Mushroom Bodies (MBs) are worthy of primary attention for understanding memory and learning functions in insects. In fact, even if their main role regards olfactory conditioning, they are involved in many behavioral achievements and learning capabilities, as …
The Link between Oxidative Stress, Redox Status, Bioenergetics and Mitochondria in the Pathophysiology of ALS
2021
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common neurodegenerative disease of the motor system. It is characterized by the degeneration of both upper and lower motor neurons, which leads to muscle weakness and paralysis. ALS is incurable and has a bleak prognosis, with median survival of 3–5 years after the initial symptomatology. In ALS, motor neurons gradually degenerate and die. Many features of mitochondrial dysfunction are manifested in neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS. Mitochondria have shown to be an early target in ALS pathophysiology and contribute to disease progression. Disruption of their axonal transport, excessive generation of reactive oxygen species, disruptio…
Heterodimer formation of wild-type and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-causing mutant Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase induces toxicity independent of protei…
2008
Recent studies provide evidence that wild-type Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1(hWT)) might be an important factor in mutant SOD1-mediated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In order to investigate its functional role in the pathogenesis of ALS, we designed fusion proteins of two SOD1 monomers linked by a polypeptide. We demonstrated that wild-type-like mutants, but not SOD1(G85R) homodimers, as well as mutant heterodimers including SOD1(G85R)-SOD1(hWT) display dismutase activity. Mutant homodimers showed an increased aggregation compared with the corresponding heterodimers in cell cultures and transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans, although SOD1(G85R) heterodimers are more toxic in functiona…
Computation of inverse functions in a model of cerebellar and reflex pathways allows to control a mobile mechanical segment.
2003
Abstract The command and control of limb movements by the cerebellar and reflex pathways are modeled by means of a circuit whose structure is deduced from functional constraints. One constraint is that fast limb movements must be accurate although they cannot be continuously controlled in closed loop by use of sensory signals. Thus, the pathways which process the motor orders must contain approximate inverse functions of the bio-mechanical functions of the limb and of the muscles. This can be achieved by means of parallel feedback loops, whose pattern turns out to be comparable to the anatomy of the cerebellar pathways. They contain neural networks able to anticipate the motor consequences …
Separation of presynaptic Cav2 and Cav1 channel function in synaptic vesicle exo- and endocytosis by the membrane anchored Ca2+ pump PMCA
2021
Significance Synaptic vesicle (SV) release from presynaptic terminals requires nanometer precise control of action potential (AP)–triggered calcium influx through voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). SV recycling also depends on calcium signals, though in different spatiotemporal domains. Mechanisms for separate control of SV release and recycling by AP-triggered calcium influx remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate largely independent regulation of release and recycling by two different populations of VGCCs (Cav2, Cav1), identify Cav1 as one of potentially multiple calcium entry routes for endocytosis regulation, and show functional separation of simultaneous calcium signals in the nanome…
Neuromuscular junction disassembly and muscle fatigue in mice lacking neurotrophin-4
2001
Neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) is produced by slow muscle fibers in an activity-dependent manner and promotes growth and remodeling of adult motorneuron innervation. However, both muscle fibers and motor neurons express NT-4 receptors, suggesting bidirectional NT-4 signaling at the neuromuscular junction. Mice lacking NT-4 displayed enlarged and fragmented neuromuscular junctions with disassembled postsynaptic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters, reduced AChR binding, and acetylcholinesterase activity. Electromyographic responses, posttetanic potentiation, and action potential amplitude were also significantly reduced in muscle fibers from NT-4 knock-out mice. Slow-twitch soleus muscles from thes…
Dendrites are dispensable for basic motoneuron function but essential for fine tuning of behavior.
2014
Dendrites are highly complex 3D structures that define neuronal morphology and connectivity and are the predominant sites for synaptic input. Defects in dendritic structure are highly consistent correlates of brain diseases. However, the precise consequences of dendritic structure defects for neuronal function and behavioral performance remain unknown. Here we probe dendritic function by using genetic tools to selectively abolish dendrites in identified Drosophila wing motoneurons without affecting other neuronal properties. We find that these motoneuron dendrites are unexpectedly dispensable for synaptic targeting, qualitatively normal neuronal activity patterns during behavior, and basic …