Altered Motoneuron Properties Contribute to Motor Deficits in a Rabbit Hypoxia-Ischemia Model of Cerebral Palsy

M-type potassium currents differentially affect activation of motoneuron subtypes and tune recruitment gain

The size principle is a key mechanism governing the orderly recruitment of motor units and is believed to be dependent on passive properties of the constituent motoneurons. However, motoneurons are endowed with voltage-sensitive ion channels that create non-linearities in their input-output functions. Here we describe a role for the M-type potassium current, conducted by KCNQ channels, in the control of motoneuron recruitment in mice. Motoneurons were studied with whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology in transverse spinal slices and identified based on delayed (fast) and immediate (slow) onsets of repetitive firing. M-currents were larger in delayed compared to immediate firing motoneurons, which was not reflected by variations in the presence of Kv7.2 or Kv7.3 subunits. Instead, a more depolarized spike threshold in delayed-firing motoneurons afforded a greater proportion of the total M-current to become activated within the subthreshold voltage range, which translated to a greater influence on their recruitment with little influence on their firing rates. Pharmacological activation of M-currents also influenced motoneuron recruitment at the population level, producing a rightward shift in the recruitment curve of monosynaptic reflexes within isolated mouse spinal cords. These results demonstrate a prominent role for M-type potassium currents in regulating the function of motor units, which occurs primarily through the differential control of motoneuron subtype recruitment. More generally, these findings highlight the importance of active properties mediated by voltage-sensitive ion channels in the differential control of motoneuron recruitment, which is a key mechanism for the gradation of muscle force. KEY POINTS: M-currents exert an inhibitory influence on spinal motor output. This inhibitory influence is exerted by controlling the recruitment, but not the firing rate, of high-threshold fast-like motoneurons, with limited influence on low-threshold slow-like motoneurons. Preferential control of fast motoneurons may be linked to a larger M-current that is activated within the subthreshold voltage range compared to slow motoneurons. Larger M-currents in fast compared to slow motoneurons are not accounted for by differences in Kv7.2 or Kv7.3 channel composition. The orderly recruitment of motoneuron subtypes is shaped by differences in the contribution of voltage-gated ion channels, including KCNQ channels. KCNQ channels may provide a target to dynamically modulate the recruitment gain across the motor pool and readily adjust movement vigour.

Neuronal branching is increasingly asymmetric near synapses, potentially enabling plasticity while minimizing energy dissipation and conduction time

Neurons' primary function is to encode and transmit information in the brain and body. The branching architecture of axons and dendrites must compute, respond and make decisions while obeying the rules of the substrate in which they are enmeshed. Thus, it is important to delineate and understand the principles that govern these branching patterns. Here, we present evidence that asymmetric branching is a key factor in understanding the functional properties of neurons. First, we derive novel predictions for asymmetric scaling exponents that encapsulate branching architecture associated with crucial principles such as conduction time, power minimization and material costs. We compare our predictions with extensive data extracted from images to associate specific principles with specific biophysical functions and cell types. Notably, we find that asymmetric branching models lead to predictions and empirical findings that correspond to different weightings of the importance of maximum, minimum or total path lengths from the soma to the synapses. These different path lengths quantitatively and qualitatively affect energy, time and materials. Moreover, we generally observe that higher degrees of asymmetric branching-potentially arising from extrinsic environmental cues and synaptic plasticity in response to activity-occur closer to the tips than the soma (cell body).

Neuronal Branching is Increasingly Asymmetric Near Synapses, Potentially Enabling Plasticity While Minimizing Energy Dissipation and Conduction Time

Neurons' primary function is to encode and transmit information in the brain and body. The branching architecture of axons and dendrites must compute, respond, and make decisions while obeying the rules of the substrate in which they are enmeshed. Thus, it is important to delineate and understand the principles that govern these branching patterns. Here, we present evidence that asymmetric branching is a key factor in understanding the functional properties of neurons. First, we derive novel predictions for asymmetric scaling exponents that encapsulate branching architecture associated with crucial principles such as conduction time, power minimization, and material costs. We compare our predictions with extensive data extracted from images to associate specific principles with specific biophysical functions and cell types. Notably, we find that asymmetric branching models lead to predictions and empirical findings that correspond to different weightings of the importance of maximum, minimum, or total path lengths from the soma to the synapses. These different path lengths quantitatively and qualitatively affect energy, time, and materials. Moreover, we generally observe that higher degrees of asymmetric branching- potentially arising from extrinsic environmental cues and synaptic plasticity in response to activity- occur closer to the tips than the soma (cell body).

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.

How axon and dendrite branching are guided by time, energy, and spatial constraints

Neurons are connected by complex branching processes-axons and dendrites-that process information for organisms to respond to their environment. Classifying neurons according to differences in structure or function is a fundamental part of neuroscience. Here, by constructing biophysical theory and testing against empirical measures of branching structure, we develop a general model that establishes a correspondence between neuron structure and function as mediated by principles such as time or power minimization for information processing as well as spatial constraints for forming connections. We test our predictions for radius scale factors against those extracted from neuronal images, measured for species that range from insects to whales, including data from light and electron microscopy studies. Notably, our findings reveal that the branching of axons and peripheral nervous system neurons is mainly determined by time minimization, while dendritic branching is determined by power minimization. Our model also predicts a quarter-power scaling relationship between conduction time delay and body size.

Enhanced nociceptive behavior and expansion of associated primary afferents in a rabbit model of cerebral palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy (CP) is a movement disorder marked by hypertonia and hyperreflexia; the most prevalent comorbidity is pain. Since spinal nociceptive afferents contribute to both the sensation of painful stimuli as well as reflex circuits involved in movement, we investigated the relationship between prenatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) injury which can cause CP, and possible changes in spinal nociceptive circuitry. To do this, we examined nociceptive afferents and mechanical and thermal sensitivity of New Zealand White rabbit kits after prenatal HI or a sham surgical procedure. As described previously, a range of motor deficits similar to spastic CP was observed in kits born naturally after HI (40 min at ~70%-80% gestation). We found that HI caused an expansion of peptidergic afferents (marked by expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide) in both the superficial and deep dorsal horn at postnatal day (P)5. Non-peptidergic nociceptive afferent arborization (labeled by isolectin B4) was unaltered in HI kits, but overlap of the two populations (peptidergic and non-peptidergic nociceptors) was increased by HI. Density of glial fibrillary acidic protein was unchanged within spinal cord white matter regions important in nociceptive transmission at P5. We found that mechanical and thermal nociception was enhanced in HI kits even in the absence of motor deficits. These findings suggest that prenatal HI injury impacts spinal sensory pathways in addition to the more well-established disruptions to descending motor circuits. In conclusion, changes to spinal nociceptive circuitry could disrupt spinal reflexes and contribute to pain experienced by individuals with CP.

Trans-Spinal Direct Current Stimulation Targets Ca2+ Channels to Induce Persistent Motor Unit Responses

Trans-spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) is a neuromodulatory approach to augment spinal cord activity to improve function after neurological disease and injury. Little is known about the mechanisms underlying tsDCS actions on the motor system. The purpose of this study is to determine the role for a persistent inward current (PIC)-like response in motoneurons in mediating tsDCS actions. We recorded single motor units from the extensor and flexor carpi radialis muscles in healthy sedated rats and measured unit activity changes produced by cervical enlargement cathodal and anodal tsDCS (c-tsDCS; a-tsDCS). Both c-tsDCS and a-tsDCS immediately increased spontaneous motor unit firing during stimulation. After c-tsDCS was stopped, spontaneous firing persisted for a substantial period (165 ± 5s), yet after a-tsDCS activity shortly returned to baseline (27 ± 7s). Administration of the L-type calcium channel blocker Nimodipine reduced spontaneous motor unit firing during c-tsDCS and blocked the persistent response. By contrast, Nimodipine did not change unit firing during a-tsDCS but the short persistent response was blocked. Computer simulation using a two-compartment neuronal model replicated the main experimental observations: larger and more persistent responses during and after c-tsDCS than a-tsDCS. Using reduced Ca²⁺ conductance to model Nimodipine action, a reduced response during c-tsDCS and elimination of the persistent response was observed. Our experimental findings, supported by computer simulation, show that c-tsDCS can target Ca²⁺ conductances to augment motoneuron activity. As tsDCS is well-tolerated in humans, this knowledge informs therapeutic treatment strategies to achieve rehabilitation goals after injury; in particular, to increase muscle force.

Axon initial segment geometry in relation to motoneuron excitability

The axon initial segment (AIS) responsible for action potential initiation is a dynamic structure that varies and changes together with neuronal excitability. Like other neuron types, alpha motoneurons in the mammalian spinal cord express heterogeneity and plasticity in AIS geometry, including length (AIS_l) and distance from soma (AIS_d). The present study aimed to establish the relationship of AIS geometry with a measure of intrinsic excitability, rheobase current, that varies by 20-fold or more among normal motoneurons. We began by determining whether AIS length or distance differed for motoneurons in motor pools that exhibit different activity profiles. Motoneurons sampled from the medial gastrocnemius (MG) motor pool exhibited values for average AIS_d that were significantly greater than that for motoneurons from the soleus (SOL) motor pool, which is more readily recruited in low-level activities. Next, we tested whether AIS_d covaried with intrinsic excitability of individual motoneurons. In anesthetized rats, we measured rheobase current intracellularly from MG motoneurons in vivo before labeling them for immunohistochemical study of AIS structure. For 16 motoneurons sampled from the MG motor pool, this combinatory approach revealed that AIS_d, but not AIS_l, was significantly related to rheobase, as AIS tended to be located further from the soma on motoneurons that were less excitable. Although a causal relation with excitability seems unlikely, AIS_d falls among a constellation of properties related to the recruitability of motor units and their parent motoneurons.

Maturation of persistent and hyperpolarization-activated inward currents shapes the differential activation of motoneuron subtypes during postnatal development

The size principle underlies the orderly recruitment of motor units; however, motoneuron size is a poor predictor of recruitment amongst functionally defined motoneuron subtypes. Whilst intrinsic properties are key regulators of motoneuron recruitment, the underlying currents involved are not well defined. Whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology was deployed to study intrinsic properties, and the underlying currents, that contribute to the differential activation of delayed and immediate firing motoneuron subtypes. Motoneurons were studied during the first three postnatal weeks in mice to identify key properties that contribute to rheobase and may be important to establish orderly recruitment. We find that delayed and immediate firing motoneurons are functionally homogeneous during the first postnatal week and are activated based on size, irrespective of subtype. The rheobase of motoneuron subtypes becomes staggered during the second postnatal week, which coincides with the differential maturation of passive and active properties, particularly persistent inward currents. Rheobase of delayed firing motoneurons increases further in the third postnatal week due to the development of a prominent resting hyperpolarization-activated inward current. Our results suggest that motoneuron recruitment is multifactorial, with recruitment order established during postnatal development through the differential maturation of passive properties and sequential integration of persistent and hyperpolarization-activated inward currents.