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The rat corticospinal system is functionally and anatomically segregated.

Rafael Olivares-Moreno1, Yunuen Moreno-Lopez1, Luis Concha2

  • 1Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico.

Brain Structure & Function
|May 22, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The corticospinal tract (CST) uses distinct neuron populations to control different spinal cord circuits. This segregated projection allows coordinated modulation of both motor outputs and sensory inputs for sensorimotor integration.

Keywords:
CorticospinalDorsal hornLayer 5 pyramidal neuronsSensorimotor cortexSpinal cord

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Spinal Cord Physiology

Background:

  • The descending corticospinal (CS) projection is crucial for motor control, modulating spinal cord interneurons and motoneurons.
  • The CS tract (CST) also influences sensory information processing in the dorsal horn.
  • Limited knowledge exists regarding the specific spinal networks engaged by the CST and the organization of CS projections encoding distinct cortical outputs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether the CS system exerts parallel control over different spinal networks involved in sensorimotor integration.
  • To elucidate the organization of CS projections and their distinct targets within the spinal cord.

Main Methods:

  • Electrophysiological recordings in adult rats.
  • Tracing of corticospinal projections from the sensorimotor cortex to the spinal cord.

Main Results:

  • Two distinct populations of CS neurons in the sensorimotor cortex were identified.
  • These CS neurons activate separate spinal cord neurons in the dorsal horn and intermediate zone with different time latencies.
  • Evidence suggests segregated projections of CS neurons to different spinal cord circuits.

Conclusions:

  • The CST comprises subsystems that project to distinct spinal cord circuits.
  • These subsystems enable coordinated modulation of motor outputs and sensory inputs, contributing to sensorimotor integration.