Activity of propriospinal neurons in segments C3 and C4 during fictitious locomotion in cats

Descending propriospinal neurons mediate restoration of locomotor function following spinal cord injury

“…First, in cats and turtles, sensory stimulation of the body or stimulation of the rostral spinal cord activates descending PS neurons, which in turn activate CPGs in the lumbar cord for rhythmic scratching or wiping movements (Berkinblit et al 1978;Berkowitz and Stein 1994). In several vertebrates, stimulation of the brain or spinal cord elicits locomotor activity, in part via activation of a descending PS system (Arshavsky et al 1985;Cowley et al 2008Cowley et al , 2015Gerasimenko et al 2002Gerasimenko et al , 2009Kazennikov et al 1979Kazennikov et al , 1983aKazennikov et al , 1983bYakovenko et al 2007). In addition, brain-initiated lumbar locomotor activity can be blocked when synaptic transmission is abolished at mid-spinal levels (Cowley et al 2010;Zaporozhets et al 2006Zaporozhets et al , 2011.…”