Dendritic orientation and branching distinguish a class of multifunctional turtle spinal interneurons

摘要: Spinal interneurons can integrate diverse propriospinal and supraspinal inputs that trigger or modulate locomotion other limb movements. These synaptic occur on distal dendrites yet must remain effective at the soma. Active dendritic conductances may amplify inputs, but appear to play a minimal role during scratching, least. Another possibility is spinal have unusually simple trees effectively funnel current We previously described class of interneurons, called transverse (or T neurons), in adult turtles. neurons were defined as having extend further plane than rostrocaudally soma extends mediolaterally rostrocaudally. are multifunctional, they activated both swimming scratching motor patterns. had higher peak firing rates larger membrane potential oscillations scratch-activated with different morphologies (“non-T” neurons). characteristics make good candidates an important integrating generating relaying rhythmic Here, we quantitatively investigated additional morphological compared non-T neurons. found less total length, greater proportion length primary dendrites, oriented more mediolaterally. Thus, neuron far mediolaterally, simple, which help channel from lateral ventral funiculi In combination physiological properties, these properties generate and/or