Spatial and temporal patterns of serotonin release in the rat's lumbar spinal cord following electrical stimulation of the nucleus raphe magnus

Spinal motoneurons respond aberrantly to serotonin in a rabbit model of cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is caused by a variety of factors that damage the developing central nervous system. Impaired motor control, including muscle stiffness and spasticity, is the hallmark of spastic CP. Rabbits that experience hypoxic-ischaemic (HI) injury in utero (at 70%-83% gestation) are born with muscle stiffness, hyperreflexia and, as recently discovered, increased 5-HT in the spinal cord. To determine whether serotonergic modulation of spinal motoneurons (MNs) contributes to motor deficits, we performed ex vivo whole cell patch clamp in neonatal rabbit spinal cord slices at postnatal day (P) 0-5. HI MNs responded to the application of α-methyl 5-HT (a 5-HT1 /5-HT2 receptor agonist) and citalopram (a selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor) with increased amplitude and hyperpolarization of persistent inward currents and hyperpolarized threshold voltage for action potentials, whereas control MNs did not exhibit any of these responses. Although 5-HT similarly modulated MN properties of HI motor-unaffected and motor-affected kits, it affected sag/hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih ) and spike frequency adaptation only in HI motor-affected MNs. To further explore the differential sensitivity of MNs to 5-HT, we performed immunostaining for inhibitory 5-HT1A receptors in lumbar spinal MNs at P5. Fewer HI MNs expressed the 5-HT1A receptor compared to age-matched control MNs. This suggests that HI MNs may lack a normal mechanism of central fatigue, mediated by 5-HT1A receptors. Altered expression of other 5-HT receptors (including 5-HT2 ) likely also contributes to the robust increase in HI MN excitability. In summary, by directly exciting MNs, the increased concentration of spinal 5-HT in HI-affected rabbits can cause MN hyperexcitability, muscle stiffness and spasticity characteristic of CP. Therapeutic strategies that target serotonergic neuromodulation may be beneficial to individuals with CP. KEY POINTS: We used whole cell patch clamp electrophysiology to test the responsivity of spinal motoneurons (MNs) from neonatal control and hypoxia-ischaemia (HI) rabbits to 5-HT, which is elevated in the spinal cord after prenatal HI injury. HI rabbit MNs showed a more robust excitatory response to 5-HT than control rabbit MNs, including hyperpolarization of the persistent inward current and threshold voltage for action potentials. Although most MN properties of HI motor-unaffected and motor-affected kits responded similarly to 5-HT, 5-HT caused larger sag/hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih ) and altered repetitive firing patterns only in HI motor-affected MNs. Immunostaining revealed that fewer lumbar MNs expressed inhibitory 5-HT1A receptors in HI rabbits compared to controls, which could account for the more robust excitatory response of HI MNs to 5-HT. These results suggest that elevated 5-HT after prenatal HI injury could trigger a cascade of events that lead to muscle stiffness and altered motor unit development.

Spinal motoneurons respond aberrantly to serotonin in a rabbit model of cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is caused by a variety of factors that damage the developing central nervous system. Impaired motor control, including muscle stiffness and spasticity, is the hallmark of spastic CP. Rabbits that experience hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury in utero (at 70-80% gestation) are born with muscle stiffness, hyperreflexia, and, as recently discovered, increased serotonin (5-HT) in the spinal cord. To determine whether serotonergic modulation of spinal motoneurons (MNs) contributes to motor deficits, we performed ex vivo whole cell patch clamp in neonatal rabbit spinal cord slices at postnatal day (P) 0-5. HI MNs responded to application of α-methyl 5-HT (a 5-HT 1 /5-HT 2 receptor agonist) and citalopram (a selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor) with hyperpolarization of persistent inward currents and threshold voltage for action potentials, reduced maximum firing rate, and an altered pattern of spike frequency adaptation while control MNs did not exhibit any of these responses. To further explore the differential sensitivity of MNs to 5-HT, we performed immunohistochemistry for inhibitory 5-HT 1A receptors in lumbar spinal MNs at P5. Fewer HI MNs expressed the 5-HT 1A receptor compared to age-matched controls. This suggests many HI MNs lack a normal mechanism of central fatigue mediated by 5-HT 1A receptors. Other 5-HT receptors (including 5-HT 2 ) are likely responsible for the robust increase in HI MN excitability. In summary, by directly exciting MNs, the increased concentration of spinal 5-HT in HI rabbits can cause MN hyperexcitability, muscle stiffness, and spasticity characteristic of CP. Therapeutic strategies that target serotonergic neuromodulation may be beneficial to individuals with CP.

Key points

After prenatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI), neonatal rabbits that show hypertonia are known to have higher levels of spinal serotoninWe tested responsivity of spinal motoneurons (MNs) in neonatal control and HI rabbits to serotonin using whole cell patch clampMNs from HI rabbits showed a more robust excitatory response to serotonin than control MNs, including hyperpolarization of the persistent inward current and threshold for action potentials, larger post-inhibitory rebound, and less spike frequency adaptation Based on immunohistochemistry of lumbar MNs, fewer HI MNs express inhibitory 5HT 1A receptors than control MNs, which could account for the more robust excitatory response of HI MNs. These results suggest that after HI injury, the increased serotonin could trigger a cascade of events leading to muscle stiffness and altered motor unit development.

The tracts, cytoarchitecture, and neurochemistry of the spinal cord

The human spinal cord can be described using a range of nomenclatures with each providing insight into its structure and function. Here we have comprehensively reviewed the key literature detailing the general structure, configuration of tracts, the cytoarchitecture of Rexed's laminae, and the neurochemistry at the spinal segmental level. The purpose of this review is to detail current anatomical understanding of how the spinal cord is structured and to aid researchers in identifying gaps in the literature that need to be studied to improve our knowledge of the spinal cord which in turn will improve the potential of therapeutic intervention for disorders of the spinal cord.

Influence of developmental nicotine exposure on serotonergic control of breathing-related motor output

Serotonin plays an important role in the development of brainstem circuits that control breathing. Here, we test the hypothesis that developmental nicotine exposure (DNE) alters the breathing-related motor response to serotonin (5HT). Pregnant rats were exposed to nicotine or saline, and brainstem-spinal cord preparations from 1- to 5-day-old pups were studied in a split-bath configuration, allowing drugs to be applied selectively to the medulla or spinal cord. The activity of the fourth cervical ventral nerve roots (C4VR), which contain axons of phrenic motoneurons, was recorded. We applied 5HT alone or together with antagonists of 5HT1A, 5HT2A, or 5HT7 receptor subtypes. In control preparations, 5HT applied to the medulla consistently reduced C4VR frequency and this reduction could not be blocked by any of the three antagonists. In DNE preparations, medullary 5HT caused a large and sustained frequency increase (10 min), followed by a sustained decrease. Notably, the transient increase in frequency could be blocked by the independent addition of any of the antagonists. Experiments with subtype-specific agonists suggest that the 5HT7 subtype may contribute to the increased frequency response in the DNE preparations. Changes in C4VR burst amplitude in response to brainstem 5HT were uninfluenced by DNE. Addition of 5HT to the caudal chamber modestly increased phasic and greatly increased tonic C4VR activity, but there were no effects of DNE. The data show that DNE alters serotonergic signaling within brainstem circuits that control respiratory frequency but does not functionally alter serotonin signaling in the phrenic motoneuron pool.

Electrical epidural stimulation of the cervical spinal cord: implications for spinal respiratory neuroplasticity after spinal cord injury

Traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) can lead to damage of bulbospinal pathways to the respiratory motor nuclei and consequent life-threatening respiratory insufficiency due to respiratory muscle paralysis/paresis. Reports of electrical epidural stimulation (EES) of the lumbosacral spinal cord to enable locomotor function after SCI are encouraging, with some evidence of facilitating neural plasticity. Here, we detail the development and success of EES in recovering locomotor function, with consideration of stimulation parameters and safety measures to develop effective EES protocols. EES is just beginning to be applied in other motor, sensory, and autonomic systems; however, there has only been moderate success in preclinical studies aimed at improving breathing function after cSCI. Thus, we explore the rationale for applying EES to the cervical spinal cord, targeting the phrenic motor nucleus for the restoration of breathing. We also suggest cellular/molecular mechanisms by which EES may induce respiratory plasticity, including a brief examination of sex-related differences in these mechanisms. Finally, we suggest that more attention be paid to the effects of specific electrical parameters that have been used in the development of EES protocols and how that can impact the safety and efficacy for those receiving this therapy. Ultimately, we aim to inform readers about the potential benefits of EES in the phrenic motor system and encourage future studies in this area.

Serotonergic Modulation of Nociceptive Circuits in Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn

Background:

Despite the extensive number of studies performed in the last 50 years, aimed at describing the role of serotonin and its receptors in pain modulation at the spinal cord level, several aspects are still not entirely understood. The interpretation of these results is often complicated by the use of different pain models and animal species, together with the lack of highly selective agonists and antagonists binding to serotonin receptors.

Method:

In this review, a search has been conducted on studies investigating the modulatory action exerted by serotonin on specific neurons and circuits in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Particular attention has been paid to studies employing electro-physiological techniques, both in vivo and in vitro.

Conclusion:

The effects of serotonin on pain transmission in dorsal horn depend on several factors, including the type of re-ceptors activated and the populations of neurons involved. Recently, studies performed by activating and/or recording from identified neurons have importantly contributed to the understanding of serotonergic modulation on dorsal horn circuits.

Animal models of developmental motor disorders: parallels to human motor dysfunction in cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in children. Much of the previous research on CP has focused on reducing the severity of brain injuries, whereas very few researchers have investigated the cause and amelioration of motor symptoms. This research focus has had an impact on the choice of animal models. Many of the commonly used animal models do not display a prominent CP-like motor phenotype. In general, rodent models show anatomically severe injuries in the central nervous system (CNS) in response to insults associated with CP, including hypoxia, ischemia, and neuroinflammation. Unfortunately, most rodent models do not display a prominent motor phenotype that includes the hallmarks of spasticity (muscle stiffness and hyperreflexia) and weakness. To study motor dysfunction related to developmental injuries, a larger animal model is needed, such as rabbit, pig, or nonhuman primate. In this work, we describe and compare various animal models of CP and their potential for translation to the human condition.

Effects of Restraint Water-Immersion Stress-Induced Gastric Mucosal Damage on Astrocytes and Neurons in the Nucleus Raphe Magnus of Rats via the ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway

Restraint water-immersion stress (RWIS) consists of psychological and physical stimulation, and it has been utilized in the research of gastric mucosal damage. It has been shown by previous studies that the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) is closely involved in the gastrointestinal function, but its functions on the stress-induced gastric mucosal injury (SGMI) have not been thoroughly elucidated to date. Consequently, in this research, we aim to measure the expression of astrocytic glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neuronal c-Fos, and phosphorylation extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) in the process of RWIS with immunohistochemistry and western blot methods. What is more, we detect the relation between astrocytes and neurons throughout the stress procedure and explore the regulation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway on the activity of astrocytes and neurons after RWIS. The results indicated that all three proteins expression multiplied following peaked 3 h substantially. The SMGI, astrocyte and neuron activity were affected after the astrocytotoxin L-A-aminohexanedioic acid (L-AA) and c-fos antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) injections. After the injection of PD98059, the gastric mucosal injury, astrocyte and neuron activity significantly fell off. These results suggested that RWIS-induced activity of astrocytes and neurons in the NRM may play a significant part in gastric mucosa damage via the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Serotonergic mechanisms in spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a tragic event causing irreversible losses of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions, that may also be associated with chronic neuropathic pain. Serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission in the spinal cord is critical for modulating sensory, motor, and autonomic functions. Following SCI, 5-HT axons caudal to the lesion site degenerate, and the degree of axonal degeneration positively correlates with lesion severity. Rostral to the lesion, 5-HT axons sprout, irrespective of the severity of the injury. Unlike callosal fibers and cholinergic projections, 5-HT axons are more resistant to an inhibitory milieu and undergo active sprouting and regeneration after central nervous system (CNS) traumatism. Numerous studies suggest that a chronic increase in serotonergic neurotransmission promotes 5-HT axon sprouting in the intact CNS. Moreover, recent studies in invertebrates suggest that 5-HT has a pro-regenerative role in injured axons. Here we present a brief description of 5-HT discovery, 5-HT innervation of the CNS, and physiological functions of 5-HT in the spinal cord, including its role in controlling bladder function. We then present a comprehensive overview of changes in serotonergic axons after CNS damage, and discuss their plasticity upon altered 5-HT neurotransmitter levels. Subsequently, we provide an in-depth review of therapeutic approaches targeting 5-HT neurotransmission, as well as other pre-clinical strategies to promote an increase in re-growth of 5-HT axons, and their functional consequences in SCI animal models. Finally, we highlight recent findings signifying the direct role of 5-HT in axon regeneration and suggest strategies to further promote robust long-distance re-growth of 5-HT axons across the lesion site and eventually achieve functional recovery following SCI.

Orexinergic Modulation of Spinal Motor Activity in the Neonatal Mouse Spinal Cord

The role of orexin during development, and especially in terms of spinal cord function, is not well understood. It is for this reason that we focused on the network actions of orexin during the first week of development. We found that orexinergic fibers were present in the lumbar spinal cord of postnatal day 0 (P0) to P3 mice. The fibers were expressed mainly in the dorsal horn, but occasional fibers were observed in the ventral horn. Both orexin (OX) A and OXB increased the motoneurons (MNs) tonic neurogram discharge. However, only OXA was found to significantly increase spontaneous bursting activity and the frequency of fictive locomotor bursts. We show that OXA is able to act directly on MNs. To test the contribution of the recurrent MN collaterals, we blocked the nicotinic cholinergic drive and observed that OXA retained its ability to increase fictive locomotor activity. Additionally, we recorded neurograms from ventral lateral funiculi, where OXA had no effect on population discharge. These effects were also confirmed by recording from descending commissural interneurons via patch recordings. The loci of the effects of OXA were further investigated in a dorsal horn-removed preparation where OXA also shows an increase in the discharge from ventral root neurograms but no increase in the frequency of spontaneous or fictive locomotion burst activity. In summary, multiple lines of evidence from our work demonstrate the robust effects of orexins on spinal cord networks and MNs at the time of birth.

Medullary raphe nuclei activate the lumbosacral defecation center through the descending serotonergic pathway to regulate colorectal motility in rats

Colorectal motility is regulated by two defecation centers located in the brain and spinal cord. In previous studies, we have shown that administration of serotonin (5-HT) in the lumbosacral spinal cord causes enhancement of colorectal motility. Because spinal 5-HT is derived from neurons of the medullary raphe nuclei, including the raphe magnus, raphe obscurus, and raphe pallidus, we examined whether stimulation of the medullary raphe nuclei enhances colorectal motility via the lumbosacral defecation center. Colorectal pressure was recorded with a balloon in vivo in anesthetized rats. Electrical stimulation of the medullary raphe nuclei failed to enhance colorectal motility. Because GABAergic neurons can be simultaneously activated by the raphe stimulation and released GABA masks accelerating actions of the raphe nuclei on the lumbosacral defecation center, a GABA_A receptor antagonist was preinjected intrathecally to manifest excitatory responses. When spinal GABA_A receptors were blocked by the antagonist, electrical stimulation of the medullary raphe nuclei increased colorectal contractions. This effect of the raphe nuclei was inhibited by intrathecal injection of 5-hydroxytryptamine type 2 (5-HT₂) and type 3 (5-HT₃) receptor antagonists. In addition, injection of a selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor in the lumbosacral spinal cord augmented the raphe stimulation-induced enhancement of colorectal motility. Transection of the pelvic nerves, but not transection of the colonic nerves, prevented the effect of the raphe nuclei on colorectal motility. These results demonstrate that activation of the medullary raphe nuclei causes augmented contractions of the colorectum via 5-HT₂ and 5-HT₃ receptors in the lumbosacral defecation center. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We have shown that electrical stimulation of the medullary raphe nuclei causes augmented contractions of the colorectum via pelvic nerves in rats. The effect of the medullary raphe nuclei on colorectal motility is exerted through activation of 5-hydroxytryptamine type 2 and type 3 receptors in the lumbosacral defecation center. The descending serotoninergic raphespinal tract represents new potential therapeutic targets against colorectal dysmotility such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Exogenous serotonin regulates colorectal motility via the 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptors in the spinal cord of rats

BACKGROUND

We previously reported that intrathecal injection of noradrenaline or dopamine causes enhancement of colorectal motility. As these monoamines are neurotransmitters of descending pain inhibitory pathways in the spinal cord, we hypothesized that serotonin, which is one of the neurotransmitters involved in descending pain inhibition, also influences the lumbosacral defecation center. Therefore, we examined whether serotonin acting on the spinal defecation center enhances colorectal motility.

METHODS

Colorectal intraluminal pressure and propelled liquid volume were recorded in vivo in anesthetized rats.

KEY RESULTS

Intrathecal injection of serotonin into the L6-S1 spinal cord elicited periodic increases in colorectal intraluminal pressure, being associated with increases in liquid output. Pharmacological experiments revealed that the effect of serotonin is mediated by both 5-HT₂ and 5-HT₃ receptors. The serotonin-induced enhancement of colorectal motility was unaffected even after disconnection of the defecation center from supraspinal regions by cutting the T8 spinal cord, while transection of the parasympathetic pelvic nerves prevented the colokinetic effect of serotonin. Finally, we investigated interactions among serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine. Simultaneous administration of sub-effective doses of these monoamine neurotransmitters into the spinal cord caused propulsive colorectal motility slightly but substantially.

CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES

These results demonstrate that exogenous serotonin acts on 5-HT₂ and 5-HT₃ receptors in the lumbosacral defecation center and activates the parasympathetic nervous system to enhance colorectal motility in cooperation with noradrenaline and dopamine.

And yet it moves: Recovery of volitional control after spinal cord injury

Preclinical and clinical neurophysiological and neurorehabilitation research has generated rather surprising levels of recovery of volitional sensory-motor function in persons with chronic motor paralysis following a spinal cord injury. The key factor in this recovery is largely activity-dependent plasticity of spinal and supraspinal networks. This key factor can be triggered by neuromodulation of these networks with electrical and pharmacological interventions. This review addresses some of the systems-level physiological mechanisms that might explain the effects of electrical modulation and how repetitive training facilitates the recovery of volitional motor control. In particular, we substantiate the hypotheses that: (1) in the majority of spinal lesions, a critical number and type of neurons in the region of the injury survive, but cannot conduct action potentials, and thus are electrically non-responsive; (2) these neuronal networks within the lesioned area can be neuromodulated to a transformed state of electrical competency; (3) these two factors enable the potential for extensive activity-dependent reorganization of neuronal networks in the spinal cord and brain, and (4) propriospinal networks play a critical role in driving this activity-dependent reorganization after injury. Real-time proprioceptive input to spinal networks provides the template for reorganization of spinal networks that play a leading role in the level of coordination of motor pools required to perform a given functional task. Repetitive exposure of multi-segmental sensory-motor networks to the dynamics of task-specific sensory input as occurs with repetitive training can functionally reshape spinal and supraspinal connectivity thus re-enabling one to perform complex motor tasks, even years post injury.

Monoamine Release in the Cat Lumbar Spinal Cord during Fictive Locomotion Evoked by the Mesencephalic Locomotor Region

Spinal cord neurons active during locomotion are innervated by descending axons that release the monoamines serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) and these neurons express monoaminergic receptor subtypes implicated in the control of locomotion. The timing, level and spinal locations of release of these two substances during centrally-generated locomotor activity should therefore be critical to this control. These variables were measured in real time by fast-cyclic voltammetry in the decerebrate cat's lumbar spinal cord during fictive locomotion, which was evoked by electrical stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) and registered as integrated activity in bilateral peripheral nerves to hindlimb muscles. Monoamine release was observed in dorsal horn (DH), intermediate zone/ventral horn (IZ/VH) and adjacent white matter (WM) during evoked locomotion. Extracellular peak levels (all sites) increased above baseline by 138 ± 232.5 nM and 35.6 ± 94.4 nM (mean ± SD) for NE and 5-HT, respectively. For both substances, release usually began prior to the onset of locomotion typically earliest in the IZ/VH and peaks were positively correlated with net activity in peripheral nerves. Monoamine levels gradually returned to baseline levels or below at the end of stimulation in most trials. Monoamine oxidase and uptake inhibitors increased the release magnitude, time-to-peak (TTP) and decline-to-baseline. These results demonstrate that spinal monoamine release is modulated on a timescale of seconds, in tandem with centrally-generated locomotion and indicate that MLR-evoked locomotor activity involves concurrent activation of descending monoaminergic and reticulospinal pathways. These gradual changes in space and time of monoamine concentrations high enough to strongly activate various receptors subtypes on locomotor activated neurons further suggest that during MLR-evoked locomotion, monoamine action is, in part, mediated by extrasynaptic neurotransmission in the spinal cord.

Differential innervation of superficial versus deep laminae of the dorsal horn by bulbo-spinal serotonergic pathways in the rat

Convergent data showed that bulbo-spinal serotonergic projections exert complex modulatory influences on nociceptive signaling within the dorsal horn. These neurons are located in the B3 area which comprises the median raphe magnus (RMg) and the lateral paragigantocellular reticular (LPGi) nuclei. Because LPGi 5-HT neurons differ from RMg 5-HT neurons regarding both their respective electrophysiological properties and responses to noxious stimuli, we used anatomical approaches for further characterization of the respective spinal projections of LPGi versus RMg 5-HT neuron subgroups. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were stereotaxically injected into the RMg or the LPGi with the anterograde tracer Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L). The precise location of injection sites and RMg vs LPGi spinal projections into the different dorsal horn laminae were visualized by PHA-L immunolabeling. Double immunofluorescent labeling of PHA-L and the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) allowed detection of serotonergic fibers among bulbo-spinal projections. Anterograde tracing showed that RMg neurons project preferentially into the deep laminae V-VI whereas LPGi neuron projections are confined to the superficial laminae I-II of the ipsilateral dorsal horn. All along the spinal cord, double-labeled PHA-L/5-HTT immunoreactive fibers, which represent only 5-15% of all PHA-L-immunoreactive projections, exhibit the same differential locations depending on their origin in the RMg versus the LPGi. The clear-cut distinction between dorsal horn laminae receiving bulbo-spinal serotonergic projections from the RMg versus the LPGi provides further anatomical support to the idea that the descending serotonergic pathways issued from these two bulbar nuclei might exert different modulatory influences on the spinal relay of pain signaling neuronal pathways.

Deep Brain Stimulation Improves the Symptoms and Sensory Signs of Persistent Central Neuropathic Pain from Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report

Central neuropathic pain (CNP) is a significant problem after spinal cord injury (SCI). Pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches may reduce the severity, but relief is rarely substantial. While deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been used to treat various chronic pain types, the technique has rarely been used to attenuate CNP after SCI. Here we present the case of a 54-year-old female with incomplete paraplegia who had severe CNP in the lower limbs and buttock areas since her injury 30 years prior. She was treated with bilateral DBS of the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG). The effects of this stimulation on CNP characteristics, severity and pain-related sensory function were evaluated using the International SCI Pain Basic Data Set (ISCIPBDS), Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI), Multidimensional Pain Inventory and Quantitative Sensory Testing before and periodically after initiation of DBS. After starting DBS treatment, weekly CNP severity ratings rapidly decreased from severe to minimal, paralleled by a substantial reduction in size of the painful area, reduced pain impact and reversal of pain-related neurological abnormalities, i.e., dynamic-mechanical and cold allodynia. She discontinued pain medication on study week 24. The improvement has been consistent. The present study expands on previous findings by providing in-depth assessments of symptoms and signs associated with CNP. The results of this study suggest that activation of endogenous pain inhibitory systems linked to the PAG can eliminate CNP in some people with SCI. More research is needed to better-select appropriate candidates for this type of therapy. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding the brainstem's control of chronic pain and for future progress in using analgesic DBS in the central gray.

Prolonged stimulation of a brainstem raphe region attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a neuroinflammatory disease, has few treatment options, none entirely adequate. We studied whether prolonged electrical microstimulation of a hindbrain region (the nucleus raphe magnus) can attenuate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a murine model of MS induced by MOG35-55 injection. Eight days after symptoms emerged, a wireless electrical stimulator with an attached microelectrode was implanted cranially, and daily intermittent stimulation was begun in awake, unrestrained mice. The thoracic spinal cord was analyzed for changes in histology (on day 29) and gene expression (on day 37), with a focus on myelination and cytokine production. Controls, with inactive implants, showed a phase of disease exacerbation on days 19-25 that stimulation for >16days eliminated. Prolonged stimulation also reduced numbers of infiltrating immune cells and increased numbers of myelinated axons. It additionally lowered genetic expression of some pro-inflammatory cytokines (interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha, a marker of oligodendrocyte precursors, while raising expression of myelin basic protein. Studies of restorative treatments for MS might profitably consider ways to stimulate the raphe magnus, directly or via its inputs, or to emulate its serotonergic and peptidergic output.

Neuromodulation and Synaptic Plasticity for the Control of Fast Periodic Movement: Energy Efficiency in Coupled Compliant Joints via PCA

There are multiple indications that the nervous system of animals tunes muscle output to exploit natural dynamics of the elastic locomotor system and the environment. This is an advantageous strategy especially in fast periodic movements, since the elastic elements store energy and increase energy efficiency and movement speed. Experimental evidence suggests that coordination among joints involves proprioceptive input and neuromodulatory influence originating in the brain stem. However, the neural strategies underlying the coordination of fast periodic movements remain poorly understood. Based on robotics control theory, we suggest that the nervous system implements a mechanism to accomplish coordination between joints by a linear coordinate transformation from the multi-dimensional space representing proprioceptive input at the joint level into a one-dimensional controller space. In this one-dimensional subspace, the movements of a whole limb can be driven by a single oscillating unit as simple as a reflex interneuron. The output of the oscillating unit is transformed back to joint space via the same transformation. The transformation weights correspond to the dominant principal component of the movement. In this study, we propose a biologically plausible neural network to exemplify that the central nervous system (CNS) may encode our controller design. Using theoretical considerations and computer simulations, we demonstrate that spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) for the input mapping and serotonergic neuromodulation for the output mapping can extract the dominant principal component of sensory signals. Our simulations show that our network can reliably control mechanical systems of different complexity and increase the energy efficiency of ongoing cyclic movements. The proposed network is simple and consistent with previous biologic experiments. Thus, our controller could serve as a candidate to describe the neural control of fast, energy-efficient, periodic movements involving multiple coupled joints.

Imaging Serotonergic Fibers in the Mouse Spinal Cord Using the CLARITY/CUBIC Technique

Long descending fibers to the spinal cord are essential for locomotion, pain perception, and other behaviors. The fiber termination pattern in the spinal cord of the majority of these fiber systems have not been thoroughly investigated in any species. Serotonergic fibers, which project to the spinal cord, have been studied in rats and opossums on histological sections and their functional significance has been deduced based on their fiber termination pattern in the spinal cord. With the development of CLARITY and CUBIC techniques, it is possible to investigate this fiber system and its distribution in the spinal cord, which is likely to reveal previously unknown features of serotonergic supraspinal pathways. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for imaging the serotonergic fibers in the mouse spinal cord using the combined CLARITY and CUBIC techniques. The method involves perfusion of a mouse with a hydrogel solution and clarification of the tissue with a combination of clearing reagents. Spinal cord tissue was cleared in just under two weeks, and the subsequent immunofluorescent staining against serotonin was completed in less than ten days. With a multi-photon fluorescent microscope, the tissue was scanned and a 3D image was reconstructed using Osirix software.

Distribution of raphespinal fibers in the mouse spinal cord

Background

Serotonergic raphespinal neurons and their fibers have been mapped in large mammals, but the non-serotonergic ones have not been studied, especially in the mouse. The present study aimed to investigate the termination pattern of fibers arising from the hindbrain raphe and reticular nuclei which also have serotonergic neurons by injecting the anterograde tracer BDA into them.

Results

We found that raphespinal fibers terminate in both the dorsal and ventral horns in addition to lamina 10. There is a shift of the fibers in the ventral horn towards the dorsal and lateral part of the gray matter. Considerable variation in the termination pattern also exists between raphe nuclei with raphe magnus having more fibers terminating in the dorsal horn. Fibers from the adjacent gigantocellular reticular nucleus show similar termination pattern as those from the raphe nuclei with slight difference. Immunofluorescence staining showed that raphespinal fibers were heterogeneous and serotoninergic fibers were present in all laminae but mainly in laminae 1, 2, medial lamina 8, laminae 9 and 10. Surprisingly, immunofluorescence staining on clarified spinal cord tissue revealed that serotoninergic fibers formed bundles regularly in a short distance along the rostrocaudal axis in the medial part of the ventral horn and they extended towards the lateral motor neuron column area.

Conclusion

Serotonergic and non-serotonergic fibers arising from the hindbrain raphe and reticular nuclei had similar termination pattern in the mouse spinal cord with subtle difference. The present study provides anatomical foundation for the multiple roles raphe and adjacent reticular nuclei play.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12990-015-0046-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Modulation of spontaneous locomotor and respiratory drives to hindlimb motoneurons temporally related to sympathetic drives as revealed by Mayer waves

In this study we investigated how the networks mediating respiratory and locomotor drives to lumbar motoneurons interact and how this interaction is modulated in relation to periodic variations in blood pressure (Mayer waves). Seven decerebrate cats, under neuromuscular blockade, were used to study central respiratory drive potentials (CRDPs, usually enhanced by added CO₂) and spontaneously occurring locomotor drive potentials (LDPs) in hindlimb motoneurons, together with hindlimb and phrenic nerve discharges. In four of the cats both drives and their voltage-dependent amplification were absent or modest, but in the other three, one or other of these drives was common and the voltage-dependent amplification was frequently strong. Moreover, in these three cats the blood pressure showed marked periodic variation (Mayer waves), with a slow rate (periods 9–104 s, mean 39 ± 17 SD). Profound modulation, synchronized with the Mayer waves was seen in the occurrence and/or in the amplification of the CRDPs or LDPs. In one animal, where CRDPs were present in most cells and the amplification was strong, the CRDP consistently triggered sustained plateaux at one phase of the Mayer wave cycle. In the other two animals, LDPs were common, and the occurrence of the locomotor drive was gated by the Mayer wave cycle, sometimes in alternation with the respiratory drive. Other interactions between the two drives involved respiration providing leading events, including co-activation of flexors and extensors during post-inspiration or a locomotor drive gated or sometimes entrained by respiration. We conclude that the respiratory drive in hindlimb motoneurons is transmitted via elements of the locomotor central pattern generator. The rapid modulation related to Mayer waves suggests the existence of a more direct and specific descending modulatory control than has previously been demonstrated.

The role of the serotonergic system in locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury

Serotonin (5-HT), a monoamine neurotransmitter synthesized in various populations of brainstem neurons, plays an important role in modulating the activity of spinal networks involved in vertebrate locomotion. Following spinal cord injury (SCI) there is a disruption of descending serotonergic projections to spinal motor areas, which results in a subsequent depletion in 5-HT, the dysregulation of 5-HT transporters as well as the elevated expression, super-sensitivity and/or constitutive auto-activation of specific 5-HT receptors. These changes in the serotonergic system can produce varying degrees of locomotor dysfunction through to paralysis. To date, various approaches targeting the different components of the serotonergic system have been employed to restore limb coordination and improve locomotor function in experimental models of SCI. These strategies have included pharmacological modulation of serotonergic receptors, through the administration of specific 5-HT receptor agonists, or by elevating the 5-HT precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan, which produces a global activation of all classes of 5-HT receptors. Stimulation of these receptors leads to the activation of the locomotor central pattern generator (CPG) below the site of injury to facilitate or improve the quality and frequency of movements, particularly when used in concert with the activation of other monoaminergic systems or coupled with electrical stimulation. Another approach has been to employ cell therapeutics to replace the loss of descending serotonergic input to the CPG, either through transplanted fetal brainstem 5-HT neurons at the site of injury that can supply 5-HT to below the level of the lesion or by other cell types to provide a substrate at the injury site for encouraging serotonergic axon regrowth across the lesion to the caudal spinal cord for restoring locomotion.

Gain control mechanisms in spinal motoneurons

Motoneurons provide the only conduit for motor commands to reach muscles. For many years, motoneurons were in fact considered to be little more than passive "wires". Systematic studies in the past 25 years however have clearly demonstrated that the intrinsic electrical properties of motoneurons are under strong neuromodulatory control via multiple sources. The discovery of potent neuromodulation from the brainstem and its ability to change the gain of motoneurons shows that the "passive" view of the motor output stage is no longer tenable. A mechanism for gain control at the motor output stage makes good functional sense considering our capability of generating an enormous range of forces, from very delicate (e.g., putting in a contact lens) to highly forceful (emergency reactions). Just as sensory systems need gain control to deal with a wide dynamic range of inputs, so to might motor output need gain control to deal with the wide dynamic range of the normal movement repertoire. Two problems emerge from the potential use of the brainstem monoaminergic projection to motoneurons for gain control. First, the projection is highly diffuse anatomically, so that independent control of the gains of different motor pools is not feasible. In fact, the system is so diffuse that gain for all the motor pools in a limb likely increases in concert. Second, if there is a system that increases gain, probably a system to reduce gain is also needed. In this review, we summarize recent studies that show local inhibitory circuits within the spinal cord, especially reciprocal and recurrent inhibition, have the potential to solve both of these problems as well as constitute another source of gain modulation.

Hindbrain raphe stimulation boosts cyclic adenosine monophosphate and signaling proteins in the injured spinal cord

Early recovery from incomplete spinal cord contusion is improved by prolonged stimulation of the hindbrain's serotonergic nucleus raphe magnus (NRM). Here we examine whether increases in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), an intracellular signaling molecule with several known restorative actions on damaged neural tissue, could play a role. Subsequent changes in cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of protein kinase A (PKA) and PKA-dependent phosphorylation of the transcription factor "cAMP response element-binding protein" (CREB) are also analyzed. Rats with moderate weight-drop injury at segment T8 received 2h of NRM stimulation beginning three days after injury, followed immediately by separate extraction of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal cord for immunochemical assay. Controls lacked injury, stimulation or both. Injury reduced cAMP levels to under half of normal in all three spinal regions. NRM stimulation completely restored these levels, while producing no significant change in non-injured rats. Pretreatment with the 5-HT7 receptor antagonist pimozide (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) lowered cAMP in non-injured rats to injury amounts, which were unchanged by NRM stimulation. The phosphorylated fraction of PKA (pPKA) and CREB (pCREB) was reduced significantly in all three regions after SCI and restored by NRM stimulation, except for pCREB in lumbar segments. In conclusion, SCI produces spreading deficits in cAMP, pPKA and pCREB that are reversible by Gs protein-coupled 5-HT receptors responding to raphe-spinal activity, although these signaling molecules are not reactive to NRM stimulation in normal tissue. These findings can partly explain the benefits of NRM stimulation after SCI.

Spontaneous and electrically-evoked catecholamine secretion from long-term cultures of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

Catecholamine release was measured from bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cell (CC) cultures maintained over a period of three months. Cells were plated over simple biocompatible cell platforms with electrical stimulation capability and at specified times transferred to an acrylic superfusion chamber designed to allow controlled flow of superfusate over the culture. Catecholamine release was measured from the superfusates using fast cyclic voltammetry before, during and after electrical stimulation of the cells. Immunocytochemical staining of CC cultures revealed that they were composed of epinephrine (EP) and/or norepinephrine (NE) type cells. Both spontaneous and evoked-release of catecholamines from CCs were observed throughout the testing period. EP predominated during spontaneous release, whereas NE was more prevalent during electrically-evoked release. Electrical stimulation for 20 s, increased total catecholamine release by 60-130% (measured over a period of 500 s) compared to that observed for an equivalent 20 s period of spontaneous release. Stimulus intensity was correlated with the amount of evoked release, up to a plateau which was observed near the highest intensities. Shorter intervals between stimulation trials did not significantly affect the initial amount of release, and the amount of evoked release was relatively stable over time and did not decrease significantly with age of the culture. The present study demonstrates long-term survival of CC cultures in vitro and describes a technique useful for rapid assessment of cell functionality and release properties of cultured monoaminergic cell types that later can be transplanted for neurotransmitter replacement following injury or disease.

Multiple roles of serotonin in pain control mechanisms--implications of 5-HT₇ and other 5-HT receptor types

Among monoamine neurotransmitters, serotonin (5-HT) is known to play complex modulatory roles in pain signaling mechanisms since the first reports, about forty years ago, on its essentially pro-nociceptive effects at the periphery and anti-nociceptive effects when injected directly at the spinal cord level. The discovery of multiple 5-HT receptor subtypes allowed possible explanations to this dual action at the periphery versus the central nervous system (CNS) since both excitatory and inhibitory effects can be exerted through 5-HT activation of different 5-HT receptors. However, it also appeared that activation of the same receptor subtype at CNS level might induce variable effects depending on the physiological or pathophysiological status of the animal administered with agonists. In particular, the marked neuroplastic changes induced by nerve lesion, which account for sensitization of pain signaling mechanisms, can contribute to dramatic changes in the effects of a given 5-HT receptor agonist in neuropathic rats versus intact healthy rats. This has notably been observed with 5-HT₇ receptor agonists which exert a pronociceptive action in healthy rats but alleviate hyperalgesia consecutive to nerve lesion in neuropathic animals. Analysis of cellular mechanisms underlying such dual 5-HT actions mediated by a single receptor subtype indicates that the neuronal phenotype which expresses this receptor also plays a key role in determining which modulatory action 5-HT would finally exert on pain signaling mechanisms.

The puerperium alters spinal cord plasticity following peripheral nerve injury

Tissue and nerve damage can result in chronic pain. Yet, chronic pain after cesarean delivery is remarkably rare in women and hypersensitivity from peripheral nerve injury in rats resolves rapidly if the injury occurs in the puerperium. Little is known regarding the mechanisms of this protection except for a reliance on central nervous system oxytocin signaling. Here we show that the density of inhibitory noradrenergic fibers in the spinal cord is greater when nerve injury is performed in rats during the puerperium, whereas the expression of the excitatory regulators dynorphin A and neuregulin-1 in the spinal cord is reduced. The puerperium did not alter spinal cord microgial and astrocyte activation. Astrocyte activation, as measured by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression, was not evident in female rats with injury, regardless of delivery status suggesting sex differences in spinal astrocyte activation after injury. These results suggest a change in the descending inhibitory/facilitating balance on spinal nociception neurotransmission during the puerperium, as mechanisms for its protective effect against injury-induced hypersensitivity.

Midbrain raphe stimulation improves behavioral and anatomical recovery from fluid-percussion brain injury

The midbrain median raphe (MR) and dorsal raphe (DR) nuclei were tested for their capacity to regulate recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI). An implanted, wireless self-powered stimulator delivered intermittent 8-Hz pulse trains for 7 days to the rat's MR or DR, beginning 4-6 h after a moderate parasagittal (right) fluid-percussion injury. MR stimulation was also examined with a higher frequency (24 Hz) or a delayed start (7 days after injury). Controls had sham injuries, inactive stimulators, or both. The stimulation caused no apparent acute responses or adverse long-term changes. In water-maze trials conducted 5 weeks post-injury, early 8-Hz MR and DR stimulation restored the rate of acquisition of reference memory for a hidden platform of fixed location. Short-term spatial working memory, for a variably located hidden platform, was restored only by early 8-Hz MR stimulation. All stimulation protocols reversed injury-induced asymmetry of spontaneous forelimb reaching movements tested 6 weeks post-injury. Post-mortem histological measurement at 8 weeks post-injury revealed volume losses in parietal-occipital cortex and decussating white matter (corpus callosum plus external capsule), but not hippocampus. The cortical losses were significantly reversed by early 8-Hz MR and DR stimulation, the white matter losses by all forms of MR stimulation. The generally most effective protocol, 8-Hz MR stimulation, was tested 3 days post-injury for its acute effect on forebrain cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), a key trophic signaling molecule. This procedure reversed injury-induced declines of cAMP levels in both cortex and hippocampus. In conclusion, midbrain raphe nuclei can enduringly enhance recovery from early disseminated TBI, possibly in part through increased signaling by cAMP in efferent targets. A neurosurgical treatment for TBI using interim electrical stimulation in raphe repair centers is suggested.

Extrasynaptic exocytosis and its mechanisms: a source of molecules mediating volume transmission in the nervous system

We review the evidence of exocytosis from extrasynaptic sites in the soma, dendrites, and axonal varicosities of central and peripheral neurons of vertebrates and invertebrates, with emphasis on somatic exocytosis, and how it contributes to signaling in the nervous system. The finding of secretory vesicles in extrasynaptic sites of neurons, the presence of signaling molecules (namely transmitters or peptides) in the extracellular space outside synaptic clefts, and the mismatch between exocytosis sites and the location of receptors for these molecules in neurons and glial cells, have long suggested that in addition to synaptic communication, transmitters are released, and act extrasynaptically. The catalog of these molecules includes low molecular weight transmitters such as monoamines, acetylcholine, glutamate, gama-aminobutiric acid (GABA), adenosine-5-triphosphate (ATP), and a list of peptides including substance P, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and oxytocin. By comparing the mechanisms of extrasynaptic exocytosis of different signaling molecules by various neuron types we show that it is a widespread mechanism for communication in the nervous system that uses certain common mechanisms, which are different from those of synaptic exocytosis but similar to those of exocytosis from excitable endocrine cells. Somatic exocytosis has been measured directly in different neuron types. It starts after high-frequency electrical activity or long experimental depolarizations and may continue for several minutes after the end of stimulation. Activation of L-type calcium channels, calcium release from intracellular stores and vesicle transport towards the plasma membrane couple excitation and exocytosis from small clear or large dense core vesicles in release sites lacking postsynaptic counterparts. The presence of synaptic and extrasynaptic exocytosis endows individual neurons with a wide variety of time- and space-dependent communication possibilities. Extrasynaptic exocytosis may be the major source of signaling molecules producing volume transmission and by doing so may be part of a long duration signaling mode in the nervous system.

5-Hydroxytryptamine 5HT2C receptors form a protein complex with N-methyl-D-aspartate GluN2A subunits and activate phosphorylation of Src protein to modulate motoneuronal depolarization

N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-gated ion channels are known to play a critical role in motoneuron depolarization, but the molecular mechanisms modulating NMDA activation in the spinal cord are not well understood. This study demonstrates that activated 5HT2C receptors enhance NMDA depolarizations recorded electrophysiologically from motoneurons. Pharmacological studies indicate involvement of Src tyrosine kinase mediates 5HT2C facilitation of NMDA. RT-PCR analysis revealed edited forms of 5HT2C were present in mammalian spinal cord, indicating the availability of G-protein-independent isoforms. Spinal cord neurons treated with the 5HT2C agonist MK 212 showed increased Src(Tyr-416) phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner thus verifying that Src is activated after treatment. In addition, 5HT2C antagonists and tyrosine kinase inhibitors blocked 5HT2C-mediated Src(Tyr-416) phosphorylation and also enhanced NMDA-induced motoneuron depolarization. Co-immunoprecipitation of synaptosomal fractions showed that GluN2A, 5HT2C receptors, and Src tyrosine kinase form protein associations in synaptosomes. Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated GluN2A and 5HT2C receptors co-localize on the processes of spinal neurons. These findings reveal that a distinct multiprotein complex links 5-hydroxytryptamine-activated intracellular signaling events with NMDA-mediated functional activity.

Wireless Instantaneous Neurotransmitter Concentration System: electrochemical monitoring of serotonin using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry--a proof-of-principle study

OBJECT

The authors previously reported the development of the Wireless Instantaneous Neurotransmitter Concentration System (WINCS) for measuring dopamine and suggested that this technology may be useful for evaluating deep brain stimulation-related neuromodulatory effects on neurotransmitter systems. The WINCS supports fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) at a carbon-fiber microelectrode (CFM) for real-time, spatially resolved neurotransmitter measurements. The FSCV parameters used to establish WINCS dopamine measurements are not suitable for serotonin, a neurotransmitter implicated in depression, because they lead to CFM fouling and a loss of sensitivity. Here, the authors incorporate into WINCS a previously described N-shaped waveform applied at a high scan rate to establish wireless serotonin monitoring.

METHODS

Optimized for the detection of serotonin, FSCV consisted of an N-shaped waveform scanned linearly from a resting potential of +0.2 to +1.0 V, then to -0.1 V and back to +0.2 V, at a rate of 1000 V/second. Proof-of-principle tests included flow injection analysis and electrically evoked serotonin release in the dorsal raphe nucleus of rat brain slices.

RESULTS

Flow cell injection analysis demonstrated that the N waveform, applied at a scan rate of 1000 V/second, significantly reduced serotonin fouling of the CFM, relative to that observed with FSCV parameters for dopamine. In brain slices, WINCS reliably detected subsecond serotonin release in the dorsal raphe nucleus evoked by local high-frequency stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors found that WINCS supported high-fidelity wireless serotonin monitoring by FSCV at a CFM. In the future such measurements of serotonin in large animal models and in humans may help to establish the mechanism of deep brain stimulation for psychiatric disease.

Functional neuroanatomy of the noradrenergic locus coeruleus: its roles in the regulation of arousal and autonomic function part I: principles of functional organisation

The locus coeruleus (LC) is the major noradrenergic nucleus of the brain, giving rise to fibres innervating extensive areas throughout the neuraxis. Recent advances in neuroscience have resulted in the unravelling of the neuronal circuits controlling a number of physiological functions in which the LC plays a central role. Two such functions are the regulation of arousal and autonomic activity, which are inseparably linked largely via the involvement of the LC. The LC is a major wakefulness-promoting nucleus, resulting from dense excitatory projections to the majority of the cerebral cortex, cholinergic neurones of the basal forebrain, cortically-projecting neurones of the thalamus, serotoninergic neurones of the dorsal raphe and cholinergic neurones of the pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, and substantial inhibitory projections to sleep-promoting GABAergic neurones of the basal forebrain and ventrolateral preoptic area. Activation of the LC thus results in the enhancement of alertness through the innervation of these varied nuclei. The importance of the LC in controlling autonomic function results from both direct projections to the spinal cord and projections to autonomic nuclei including the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, the nucleus ambiguus, the rostroventrolateral medulla, the Edinger-Westphal nucleus, the caudal raphe, the salivatory nuclei, the paraventricular nucleus, and the amygdala. LC activation produces an increase in sympathetic activity and a decrease in parasympathetic activity via these projections. Alterations in LC activity therefore result in complex patterns of neuronal activity throughout the brain, observed as changes in measures of arousal and autonomic function.

Depletion of spinal 5-HT accelerates mechanosensory recovery in the deafferented rat spinal cord

Dorsal root injuries (DRIs), resulting in the permanent disconnection of nerve roots from the spinal cord, lead to sensory impairments, including both the loss of sensation and the development of neuropathic pain in the affected limb. DRI results in axonal sprouting of intraspinal serotonergic fibers, but the functional consequences of this response to spinal deafferentation remains unclear. Here we aimed to clarify the role of descending serotonergic projections in both mechanosensation and pain following DRI. By ablating serotonergic input to the spinal cord via 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) prior to DRI in rats, we found that serotonergic input to the dorsal horn normally inhibits the recovery of mechanosensation but has no effect on the development or resolution of cold pain. Endogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is upregulated by activated microglia, is required for sprouting of serotonergic axons and neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY)-positive interneurons, and suppresses mechanosensory recovery following DRI. Intriguingly, we found that the density of activated microglia, the amount of BDNF protein, and density of NPY-positive processes were all significantly reduced in 5,7-DHT-treated rats, suggesting that serotonergic input to the deafferented dorsal horn is required for all of these consequences of spinal deafferentation. These results indicate that BDNF-dependent serotonergic and/or increases in NPY-positive fiber density slows, and ultimately halts, mechanosensory recovery following DRI.

The use of viral gene transfer in studies of brainstem noradrenergic and serotonergic neurons

In contrast to some other neuronal populations, for example hippocampal or cortical pyramidal neurons, mechanisms of synaptic integration and transmitter release in central neurons that contain noradrenaline (NA) and serotonin (5HT) are not well understood. These cells, crucial for a wide range of autonomic and behavioural processes, have long un-myelinated axons with hundreds of varicosities where transmitters are synthesized and released. Both seem to signal mostly in 'volume transmission' mode. Very little is known about the rules that apply to this type of transmission in the brain and the factors that regulate the release of NA and 5HT. We discuss some of our published studies and more recent experiments in which viral vectors were used to investigate the physiology of these neuronal populations. We also focus on currently unresolved issues concerning the mechanism of volume transmission by NA and 5HT in the brain. We suggest that clarifying the role of astroglia in this process could be essential for our understanding of central noradrenergic and 5HT signalling.

Serotonergic innervation of the caudal spinal stump in rats after complete spinal transection: effect of olfactory ensheathing glia

Spinal cord injury studies use the presence of serotonin (5-HT)-immunoreactive axons caudal to the injury site as evidence of axonal regeneration. As olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG) transplantation improves hindlimb locomotion in adult rats with complete spinal cord transection, we hypothesized that more 5-HT-positive axons would be found in the caudal stump of OEG- than media-injected rats. Previously we found 5-HT-immunolabeled axons that spanned the transection site only in OEG-injected rats but detected labeled axons just caudal to the lesion in both media- and OEG-injected rats. Now we report that many 5-HT-labeled axons are present throughout the caudal stump of both media- and OEG-injected rats. We found occasional 5-HT-positive interneurons that are one likely source of 5-HT-labeled axons. These results imply that the presence of 5-HT-labeled fibers in the caudal stump is not a reliable indicator of regeneration. We then asked if 5-HT-positive axons appose cholinergic neurons associated with motor functions: central canal cluster and partition cells (active during fictive locomotion) and somatic motor neurons (SMNs). We found more 5-HT-positive varicosities in lamina X adjacent to central canal cluster cells in lumbar and sacral segments of OEG- than media-injected rats. SMNs and partition cells are less frequently apposed. As nonsynaptic release of 5-HT is common in the spinal cord, an increase in 5-HT-positive varicosities along motor-associated cholinergic neurons may contribute to the locomotor improvement observed in OEG-injected spinal rats. Furthermore, serotonin located within the caudal stump may activate lumbosacral locomotor networks.

Locomotor-activated neurons of the cat. I. Serotonergic innervation and co-localization of 5-HT7, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT1A receptors in the thoraco-lumbar spinal cord

Monoamines are strong modulators and/or activators of spinal locomotor networks. Thus monoaminergic fibers likely contact neurons involved in generating locomotion. The aim of the present study was to investigate the serotonergic innervation of locomotor-activated neurons within the thoraco-lumbar spinal cord following induction of hindlimb locomotion. This was determined by immunohistochemical co-localization of serotonin (5-HT) fibers or 5-HT(7)/5-HT2A/5-HT1A receptors with cells expressing the activity-dependent marker c-fos. Experiments were performed on paralyzed, decerebrate cats in which locomotion was induced by electrical stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region. Abundant c-fos immunoreactive cells were observed in laminae VII and VIII throughout the thoraco-lumbar segments of locomotor animals. Control sections from the same segments showed significantly fewer labeled neurons, mostly within the dorsal horn. Multiple serotonergic boutons were found in close apposition to the majority (80-100%) of locomotor cells, which were most abundant in lumbar segments L3-7. 5-HT7 receptor immunoreactivity was observed on cells across the thoraco-lumbar segments (T7-L7), in a dorsoventral gradient. Most locomotor-activated cells co-localized with 5-HT7, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT1A receptors, with largest numbers in laminae VII and VIII. Co-localization of c-fos and 5-HT7 receptor was highest in the L5-L7 segments (>90%) and decreased rostrally (to approximately 50%) due to the absence of receptors on cells within the intermediolateral nucleus. In contrast, 60-80 and 35-80% of c-fos immunoreactive cells stained positive for 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors, respectively, with no rostrocaudal gradient. These results indicate that serotonergic modulation of locomotion likely involves 5-HT(7)/5-HT2A/5-HT1A receptors located on the soma and proximal dendrites of serotonergic-innervated locomotor-activated neurons within laminae VII and VIII of thoraco-lumbar segments.

Serotonin concentrations in the lumbosacral spinal cord of the adult rat following microinjection or dorsal surface application

Application of neuroactive substances, including monoamines, is common in studies examining the spinal mechanisms of sensation and behavior. However, affected regions and time courses of transmitter activity are uncertain. We measured the spatial and temporal distribution of serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] in the lumbosacral spinal cord of halothane-anesthetized adult rats, following its intraspinal microinjection or surface application. Carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs) were positioned at various locations in the spinal cord and oxidation currents corresponding to extracellular 5-HT were measured by fast cyclic voltammetry. Intraspinal microinjection of 5-HT (100 microM, 1-3 microl) produced responses that were most pronounced at CFMEs positioned <or=800 microm from the drug micropipette: 5-HT concentration was significantly higher (1.43 vs. <0.28% of initial concentration) and response latency was shorter (67.1 vs. 598.2 s) compared with more distantly positioned CFMEs. Treatment with the selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor clomipramine only slightly affected the spread of microinjected 5-HT. Surface application over several segments led to a transient rise in concentration that was usually apparent within 30 s and was dramatically attenuated with increasing depth: 0.25% of initial concentration (1 mM) within 400 microm of the dorsal surface and <0.001% between 1,170 and 2,000 microm. This initial response to superfusion was sometimes followed by a gradual increase to a new concentration plateau. In sum, compared with bath application, microinjection can deliver about tenfold higher transmitter concentrations, but to much more restricted areas of the spinal cord.