Hyperactivation of B-type motor neurons results in aberrant synchrony of the Caenorhabditis elegans motor circuit

J Neurosci. 2013 Mar 20;33(12):5319-25. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4017-12.2013.

Abstract

Excitatory acetylcholine motor neurons drive Caenorhabditis elegans locomotion. Coordinating the activation states of the backward-driving A and forward-driving B class motor neurons is critical for generating sinusoidal and directional locomotion. Here, we show by in vivo calcium imaging that expression of a hyperactive, somatodendritic ionotropic acetylcholine receptor ACR-2(gf) in A and B class motor neurons induces aberrant synchronous activity in both ventral- and dorsal-innervating B and A class motor neurons. Expression of ACR-2(gf) in either ventral- or dorsal-innervating B neurons is sufficient for triggering the aberrant synchrony that results in arrhythmic convulsions. Silencing of AVB, the premotor interneurons that innervate B motor neurons suppresses ACR-2(gf)-dependent convulsion; activating AVB by channelrhodopsin induces the onset of convulsion. These results support that the activity state of B motor neurons plays an instructive role for the coordination of motor circuit.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / physiology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology*
  • Cholinergic Neurons / physiology*
  • Dendrites / physiology
  • Efferent Pathways / cytology*
  • Efferent Pathways / physiology*
  • Gene Expression / physiology
  • Interneurons / physiology
  • Locomotion / physiology
  • Motor Neurons / physiology*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Receptors, Nicotinic / genetics
  • Receptors, Nicotinic / physiology*
  • Seizures / genetics
  • Seizures / physiopathology

Substances

  • Acr-2 protein, C elegans
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, Nicotinic
  • Acetylcholine