Bidirectional electrical coupling between inspiratory motoneurons in the newborn mouse nucleus ambiguus
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2026

Electrophysiology on Isolated Brainstem-spinal Cord Preparations from Newborn Rodents Allows Neural Respiratory Network Output Recording
Published on: November 19, 2015
1Department of Physiological Science, Systems Neurobiology Laboratory, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1527, USA.
Abstract:
Some spinal and brain stem motoneurons are electrically coupled in the early postnatal period. To test whether respiratory motoneurons in the brain stem are electrically coupled, we performed single and dual whole cell patch recordings from presumptive motoneurons in the nucleus ambiguus in a rhythmically active brain stem slice from newborn mice. Two of eight (25%) biocytin-injected neurons showed dye-coupling and 4 of 11 (36%) of intracellularly recorded pairs of neurons showed evidence of bidirectional electrical coupling. Impulse activity in one cell elicited small spikelets in the other and hyperpolarization of one cell led to hyperpolarization of the other with a coupling ratio (DeltaV2:DeltaV1) of 0.03-0.14. We conclude that inspiratory ambiguus motoneurons in the newborn mouse brain stem are bidirectionally electrically coupled, which may serve to transmit or coordinate signals, chemical or electrical.
Related Concept Videos
The Neuromuscular Junction
Brainstem
The Midbrain
The midbrain is located beneath the diencephalon and connects the cerebrum with the lower parts of the brain. The cerebral peduncles are prominent midbrain structures that house the...
Brainstem: Control Centers of Medulla
Olivary Nucleus
The olivary nucleus, or inferior olivary nucleus, is located within the ventrolateral part of the medulla oblongata. It is primarily involved in motor coordination and motor learning. The olivary nucleus receives input from the spinal cord, cerebellum, and motor...
Neural Control of Respiration
Respiratory Centers in the Brainstem
Two primary areas comprise the respiratory center: the medullary respiratory center in the medulla oblongata and the pontine respiratory group in the pons. The...

