The development of the long descending propriospinal projections in the opossum, Monodelphis domestica

The origin of the long descending propriospinal (LDP) projections have been studied in adult and developing opossums, Monodelphis domestica. This species has been chosen because of the considerable immaturity of the hindlimbs at birth, the postnatal appearance of their motility and the late development of coordination between them and the forelimbs. Neuroanatomical tracing has indicated that some LDP projections form postnatally. The ones present at birth arise from the regions of the cord where they are the most numerous in the adult opossum, presumptive laminae VII and VIII of the brachial enlargement. Subsequently, LDP projections arise from neurons located in adjacent laminae (IV to VI and IX and X) and at more rostral cervical levels. The origin of LDP projections in the adult opossums generally matches that reported for other mammals. These long propriospinal projections are in place well before the behavioral appearance of coordination between the hindlimbs and the forelimbs, but the timing of their synaptogenesis is not yet known.