Chloroquine impairs maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure generation in old mice

Aging results in increased neuromuscular transmission failure and denervation of the diaphragm muscle, as well as decreased force generation across a range of motor behaviors. Increased risk for respiratory complications in old age is a major health problem. Aging impairs autophagy, a tightly regulated multistep process responsible for clearing misfolded or aggregated proteins and damaged organelles. In motor neurons, aging-related autophagy impairment may contribute to deficits in neurotransmission, subsequent muscle atrophy, and loss of muscle force. Chloroquine is commonly used to inhibit autophagy. We hypothesized that chloroquine decreases transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) in mice. Old mice (16-28 mo old; n = 26) were randomly allocated to receive intraperitoneal chloroquine (50 mg/kg) or vehicle 4 h before measuring Pdi during eupnea, hypoxia (10% O2)-hypercapnia (5% CO2) exposure, spontaneous deep breaths ("sighs"), and maximal activation elicited by bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation (Pdimax). Pdi amplitude and ventilatory parameters across experimental groups and behaviors were evaluated using a mixed linear model. There were no differences in Pdi amplitude across treatments during eupnea (∼8 cm H2O), hypoxia-hypercapnia (∼10 cm H2O), or sigh (∼36 cm H2O), consistent with prior studies documenting a lack of aging effects on ventilatory behaviors. In vehicle and chloroquine-treated mice, average Pdimax was 61 and 46 cm H2O, respectively. Chloroquine decreased Pdimax by 24% compared to vehicle (P < 0.05). There were no sex or age effects on Pdi in older mice. The observed decrease in Pdimax suggests aging-related susceptibility to impairments in autophagy, consistent with the effects of chloroquine on this important homeostatic process.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Recent findings suggest that autophagy plays a role in the development of aging-related neuromuscular dysfunction; however, the contribution of autophagy impairment to the maintenance of diaphragm force generation in old age is unknown. This study shows that in old mice, chloroquine administration decreases maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure generation. These chloroquine effects suggest a susceptibility to impairments in autophagy in old age.

Neuromotor control of spontaneous quiet breathing in awake rats evaluated by assessments of diaphragm EMG stationarity

The neuromotor control of the diaphragm muscle (DIAm) is dynamic. The activity of the DIAm can be recorded via electromyography (EMG), which represents the temporal summation of motor unit action potentials. Our goal in the present study was to investigate DIAm neuromotor control during quiet spontaneous breathing (eupnea) in awake rats by evaluating DIAm EMG at specific temporal locations defined by motor unit recruitment and derecruitment. We evaluated the nonstationarity of DIAm EMG activity to identify DIAm motor unit recruitment and derecruitment durations. Combined with assessments of root mean square (RMS) and sum of squares (SS) EMG, the durations of these phases provide physiological information about the temporal aspects of motor control. During eupnea in awake rats (n = 10), the duration of motor unit recruitment comprised 61 ± 19 ms of the onset-to-peak duration (214 ± 62 ms) of the DIAm RMS EMG. The peak-to-offset duration of DIAm EMG activity was 453 ± 96 ms, with a terminating period of derecruitment of 161 ± 44 ms. The burst duration was 673 ± 128 ms. Both the RMS EMG amplitude and the SS EMG were higher at the completion of motor unit recruitment than at the start of motor unit derecruitment, suggesting that offset discharge rates were lower than onset discharge rates. Our analyses provide novel insights into the time domain aspects of DIAm neuromotor control and allow indirect estimates of the contribution of recruitment and frequency to RMS EMG amplitude during eupnea in awake rats.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We characterized three phases of neuromotor control-motor unit recruitment, sustained activity, and derecruitment-based on statistical assessments of stationarity of the diaphragm muscle (DIAm) EMG activity in awake rats. Our findings may allow indirect estimates of the contribution of motor unit recruitment and frequency coding toward generating force and provide novel insights about the temporal aspects of DIAm neuromotor control and descending respiratory drive in unanesthetized animals.

Chemogenetic inhibition of TrkB signalling reduces phrenic motor neuron survival and size

Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signalling through its high-affinity tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) is known to have potent effects on motor neuron survival and morphology during development and in neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we employed a novel 1NMPP1 sensitive TrkB^F616 rat model to evaluate the effect of 14 days inhibition of TrkB signalling on phrenic motor neurons (PhMNs). Adult female and male TrkB^F616 rats were divided into 1NMPP1 or vehicle treated groups. Three days prior to treatment, PhMNs in both groups were initially labeled via intrapleural injection of Alexa-Fluor-647 cholera toxin B (CTB). After 11 days of treatment, retrograde axonal uptake/transport was assessed by secondary labeling of PhMNs by intrapleural injection of Alexa-Fluor-488 CTB. After 14 days of treatment, the spinal cord was excised 100 μm thick spinal sections containing PhMNs were imaged using two-channel confocal microscopy. TrkB inhibition reduced the total number of PhMNs by ~16 %, reduced the mean PhMN somal surface areas by ~25 %, impaired CTB uptake 2.5-fold and reduced the estimated PhMN dendritic surface area by ~38 %. We conclude that inhibition of TrkB signalling alone in adult TrkB^F616 rats is sufficient to lead to PhMN loss, morphological degeneration and deficits in retrograde axonal uptake/transport.

A geometric approach to quantifying the neuromodulatory effects of persistent inward currents on individual motor unit discharge patterns

Objective.All motor commands flow through motoneurons, which entrain control of their innervated muscle fibers, forming a motor unit (MU). Owing to the high fidelity of action potentials within MUs, their discharge profiles detail the organization of ionotropic excitatory/inhibitory as well as metabotropic neuromodulatory commands to motoneurons. Neuromodulatory inputs (e.g. norepinephrine, serotonin) enhance motoneuron excitability and facilitate persistent inward currents (PICs). PICs introduce quantifiable properties in MU discharge profiles by augmenting depolarizing currents upon activation (i.e. PIC amplification) and facilitating discharge at lower levels of excitatory input than required for recruitment (i.e. PIC prolongation).Approach. Here, we introduce a novel geometric approach to estimate neuromodulatory and inhibitory contributions to MU discharge by exploiting discharge non-linearities introduced by PIC amplification during time-varying linear tasks. In specific, we quantify the deviation from linear discharge ('brace height') and the rate of change in discharge (i.e. acceleration slope, attenuation slope, angle). We further characterize these metrics on a simulated motoneuron pool with known excitatory, inhibitory, and neuromodulatory inputs and on human MUs (number of MUs; Tibialis Anterior: 1448, Medial Gastrocnemius: 2100, Soleus: 1062, First Dorsal Interosseus: 2296).Main results. In the simulated motor pool, we found brace height and attenuation slope to consistently indicate changes in neuromodulation and the pattern of inhibition (excitation-inhibition coupling), respectively, whereas the paired MU analysis (ΔF) was dependent on both neuromodulation and inhibition pattern. Furthermore, we provide estimates of these metrics in human MUs and show comparable variability in ΔFand brace height measures for MUs matched across multiple trials.Significance. Spanning both datasets, we found brace height quantification to provide an intuitive method for achieving graded estimates of neuromodulatory and inhibitory drive to individual MUs. This complements common techniques and provides an avenue for decoupling changes in the level of neuromodulatory and pattern of inhibitory motor commands.

Brain derived neurotrophic factor/tropomyosin related kinase B signaling impacts diaphragm neuromuscular transmission in a novel rat chemogenetic model

The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) mediates neural control of skeletal muscle fibers. Neurotrophic signaling, specifically brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) acting through its high-affinity tropomyosin related kinase B (TrkB) receptor is known to improve neuromuscular transmission. BDNF/TrkB signaling also maintains the integrity of antero- and retrograde communication between the motor neuron soma, its distal axons and pre-synaptic terminals and influences neuromuscular transmission. In this study, we employed a novel rat chemogenetic mutation (TrkB F616), in which a 1-naphthylmethyl phosphoprotein phosphatase 1 (1NMPP1) sensitive knock-in allele allowed specific, rapid and sustained inhibition of TrkB kinase activity. In adult female and male TrkB F616 rats, treatment with either 1NMPP1 (TrkB kinase inhibition) or DMSO (vehicle) was administered in drinking water for 14 days. To assess the extent of neuromuscular transmission failure (NMTF), diaphragm muscle isometric force evoked by nerve stimulation at 40 Hz (330 ms duration trains repeated each s) was compared to isometric forces evoked by superimposed direct muscle stimulation (every 15 s). Chronic TrkB kinase inhibition (1NMPP1 group) markedly worsened NMTF compared to vehicle controls. Acute BDNF treatment did not rescue NMTF in the 1NMPP1 group. Chronic TrkB kinase inhibition did not affect the apposition of pre-synaptic terminals (labeled with synaptophysin) and post-synaptic endplates (labeled with α-Bungarotoxin) at diaphragm NMJs. We conclude that inhibition of BDNF/TrkB signaling in TrkB F616 rats disrupts diaphragm neuromuscular transmission in a similar manner to TrkB F616A mice, likely via a pre-synaptic mechanism independent of axonal branch point failure.

The Cellular Basis for the Generation of Firing Patterns in Human Motor Units

Motor units, which comprise a motoneuron and the set of muscle fibers it innervates, are the fundamental neuromuscular transducers for all motor commands. The one to one relationship between a motoneuron and its innervated muscle fibers allow motoneuron firing patterns to be readily measured in humans. In this chapter, we summarize the current understanding of the cellular basis for the generation of firing patterns in human motor units. We provide a brief review of landmark insights from classic studies and then proceed to consider the features of motor unit firing patterns that are most likely to be sensitive estimators of motoneuron inputs and properties. In addition, we discuss recent advances in technology for recording human motor unit firing patterns and highly realistic computer simulations of motoneurons. The final section presents our recent efforts to use the power of supercomputers for implementation of the motoneuron models, with a goal of achieving a true "reverse engineering" approach that maximizes the insights from motor unit firing patterns into the synaptic structure of motor commands.

A computational approach for generating continuous estimates of motor unit discharge rates and visualizing population discharge characteristics

OBJECTIVE

Successive improvements in high density surface electromyography and decomposition techniques have facilitated an increasing yield in decomposed motor unit (MU) spike times. Though these advancements enhance the generalizability of findings and promote the application of MU discharge characteristics to inform the neural control of motor output, limitations remain. Specifically, 1) common approaches for generating smooth estimates of MU discharge rates introduce artifacts in quantification, which may bias findings, and 2) discharge characteristics of large MU populations are often difficult to visualize.

APPROACH

In the present study, we propose support vector regression (SVR) as an improved approach for generating smooth continuous estimates of discharge rate and compare the fit characteristics of SVR to traditionally used methods, including Hanning window filtering and polynomial regression. Furthermore, we introduce ensembles as a method to visualize the discharge characteristics of large MU populations. We define ensembles as the average discharge profile of a subpopulation of MUs, composed of a time normalized ensemble average of all units within this subpopulation. Analysis was conducted with MUs decomposed from the tibialis anterior (N = 2128), medial gastrocnemius (N = 2673), and soleus (N = 1190) during isometric plantarflexion and dorsiflexion contractions.

MAIN RESULT

Compared to traditional approaches, we found SVR to alleviate commonly observed inaccuracies and produce significantly less absolute fit error in the initial phase of MU discharge and throughout the entire duration of discharge. Additionally, we found the visualization of MU populations as ensembles to intuitively represent population discharge characteristics with appropriate accuracy for visualization.

SIGNIFICANCE

The results and methods outlined here provide an improved method for generating estimates of MU discharge rate with SVR and present a unique approach to visualizing MU populations with ensembles. In combination, the use of SVR and generation of ensembles represent an efficient method for rendering population discharge characteristics.

Estimates of persistent inward currents in tibialis anterior motor units during standing ramped contraction tasks in humans

Persistent inward currents (PICs) play an essential role in setting motor neuron gain and shaping motor unit firing patterns. Estimates of PICs in humans can be made using the paired motor unit analysis technique, which quantifies the difference in discharge rate of a lower threshold motor unit at the recruitment onset and offset of a higher threshold motor unit (ΔF). Because PICs are highly dependent on the level of neuromodulatory drive, ΔF represents an estimate of level of neuromodulation at the level of the spinal cord. Most of the estimates of ΔF are performed under constrained, isometric, seated conditions. In the present study, we used high-density surface EMG arrays to discriminate motor unit firing patterns during isometric seated conditions with torque or EMG visual feedback and during unconstrained standing anterior-to-posterior movements with root mean square EMG visual feedback. We were able to apply the paired motor unit analysis technique to the decomposed motor units in each of the three conditions. We hypothesized that ΔF would be higher during unconstrained standing anterior-to-posterior movements compared with the seated conditions, reflecting an increase in the synaptic input to motoneurons drive while standing. In agreement with previous work, we found that there was no evidence of a difference in ΔF between the seated and standing postures, although slight differences in the initial and peak discharge rates were observed. Taken together, our results suggest that both the standing and seated postures are likely not sufficiently different, both being "upright" postures, to result in large changes in neuromodulatory drive.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In the present study, we show that the discharge rate of a lower threshold motor unit at the recruitment onset and offset of a higher threshold motor unit (ΔF) is similar between standing and seated conditions in human tibialis anterior motor units, suggesting that at least for these two upright postures neuromodulatory drive is similar. We also highlight a proposed technological development in using high-density EMG arrays for real-time muscle activity feedback to accomplish standing ramped contraction tasks and demonstrate the validity of the paired motor unit analysis technique during these conditions.

Properties of Motor Units of Elbow and Ankle Muscles Decomposed Using High-Density Surface EMG

Analyses of motor unit activity provide a window to the neural control of motor output. In recent years, considerable advancements in surface EMG decomposition methods have allowed for the discrimination of dozens of individual motor units across a range of muscle forces. While these non-invasive methods show great potential as an emerging technology, they have difficulty discriminating a representative sample of the motor pool. In the present study, we investigate the distribution of recruitment thresholds and motor unit action potential waveforms obtained from high density EMG across four muscles: soleus, tibialis anterior, biceps brachii, and triceps brachii. Ten young and healthy control subjects generated isometric torque ramps between 10-50% maximum voluntary torque during elbow or ankle flexion and extension. Hundreds of motor unit spike trains were decomposed for each muscle across all trials. For lower contraction levels and speeds, surface EMG decomposition discriminated a large number of low-threshold units. However, during contractions of greater speed and torque level the proportion of low threshold motor units decomposed was reduced, resulting in a relatively uniform distribution of recruitment thresholds. The number of motor units decomposed decreased as the contraction level and speed increased. The decomposed units showed a wide range of recruitment thresholds and motor unit action potential amplitudes. In conclusion, although surface EMG decomposition is a useful tool to study large populations of motor units, results of such methods should be interpreted in the context of limitations in sampling of the motor pool.

Impact of aging on diaphragm muscle function in male and female Fischer 344 rats

The diaphragm muscle (DIAm) is the primary inspiratory muscle in mammals and is active during ventilatory behaviors, but it is also involved in higher-force behaviors such as those necessary for clearing the airway. Our laboratory has previously reported DIAm sarcopenia in rats and mice characterized by DIAm atrophy and a reduction in maximum specific force at 24 months of age. In Fischer 344 rats, these studies were limited to male animals, although in other studies, we noted a more rapid increase in body mass from 6 to 24 months of age in females (~140%) compared to males (~110%). This difference in body weight gain suggests a possible sex difference in the manifestation of sarcopenia. In mice, we previously measured transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) to evaluate in vivo DIAm force generation across a range of motor behaviors, but found no evidence of sex-related differences. The purpose of this study in Fischer 344 rats was to evaluate if there are sex-related differences in DIAm sarcopenia, and if such differences translate to a functional impact on Pdi generation across motor behaviors and maximal Pdi (Pdi_max ) elicited by bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation. In both males and females, DIAm sarcopenia was apparent in 24-month-old rats with a ~30% reduction in both maximum specific force and the cross-sectional area of type IIx and/or IIb fibers. Importantly, in both males and females, Pdi generated during ventilatory behaviors was unimpaired by sarcopenia, even during more forceful ventilatory efforts induced via airway occlusion. Although ventilatory behaviors were preserved with aging, there was a ~20% reduction in Pdi_max , which likely impairs the ability of the DIAm to generate higher-force expulsive airway clearance behaviors necessary to maintain airway patency.

Diaphragm muscle function following midcervical contusion injury in rats

Midcervical spinal cord contusion injury results in tissue damage, disruption of spinal pathways, and motor neuron loss. Unilateral C4 contusion results in loss of 40%-50% of phrenic motor neurons ipsilateral to the injury (~25% of the total phrenic motor neuron pool). Over time after unilateral C4 contusion injury, diaphragm muscle (DIAm) electromyogram activity increases both contralateral and ipsilateral to the side of injury in rats, suggesting compensation because of increased activation of the surviving motor neurons. However, the impact of contusion injury on DIAm force generation is less clear. Transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) was measured across motor behaviors over time after unilateral C4 contusion injury in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Maximum Pdi (Pdi_max) was elicited by bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation at 7 days postinjury. We hypothesized that Pdi_max is reduced following unilateral C4 contusion injury, whereas ventilatory behaviors of the DIAm are unimpaired. In support of our hypothesis, Pdi_max was reduced by ~25% after unilateral C4 contusion, consistent with the extent of phrenic motor neuron loss following contusion injury. One day after contusion injury, the Pdi amplitude during airway occlusion was reduced from ~30 to ~20 cmH₂O, but this reduction was completely reversed by 7 days postinjury. Ventilatory behaviors (~10 cmH₂O), DIAm-specific force, and muscle fiber cross-sectional area did not differ between the laminectomy and contusion groups. These results indicate that the large reserve capacity for DIAm force generation allows for higher-force motor behaviors to be accomplished despite motor neuron loss, likely reflecting changes in motor unit recruitment. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Respiratory muscles such as the diaphragm generate the pressures necessary to accomplish a variety of motor behaviors ranging from ventilation to near-maximal expulsive behaviors. However, the impact of contusion injury on diaphragm pressure generation across behaviors is not clear. The present study shows that contusion injury impairs maximal pressure generation while preserving the ability of the diaphragm to accomplish lower-force motor behaviors, likely reflecting changes in diaphragm motor unit recruitment.

Diaphragm muscle activity across respiratory motor behaviors in awake and lightly anesthetized rats

Respiratory muscles such as the diaphragm are active across a range of behaviors including ventilation and higher-force behaviors necessary for maintenance of airway patency, and minimal information is available regarding anesthetic effects on the capacity of respiratory muscles to generate higher forces. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether diaphragm EMG activity during lower-force behaviors, such as eupnea and hypoxia-hypercapnia, is differentially affected compared with higher-force behaviors, such as a sigh, in lightly anesthetized animals. In adult male rats, chronically implanted diaphragm EMG electrodes were used to measure the effects of low-dose ketamine (30 mg/kg) and xylazine (3 mg/kg) on root mean square (RMS) EMG amplitude across a range of motor behaviors. A mixed linear model was used to evaluate the effects of ketamine-xylazine anesthesia on peak RMS EMG and ventilatory parameters, with condition (awake vs. anesthetized), behavior (eupnea, hypoxia-hypercapnia, sigh), side (left or right hemidiaphragm), and their interactions as fixed effects and animal as a random effect. Compared with the awake recordings, there was an overall reduction of peak diaphragm RMS EMG across behaviors during anesthesia, but this reduction was more pronounced during spontaneous sighs (which require ~60% of maximal diaphragm force). Respiratory rates and duty cycle during eupnea and hypoxia-hypercapnia were higher in awake compared with anesthetized conditions. These results highlight the importance of identifying anesthetic effects on a range of respiratory motor behaviors, including sighs necessary for maintaining airway patency. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Respiratory muscles accomplish a range of motor behaviors, with forces generated for ventilatory behaviors comprising only a small fraction of their maximal force generating capacity. Induction of anesthesia exerts more robust effects on the higher-force diaphragm motor behaviors such as sighs compared with eupnea. This novel information on effects of low, sedative doses of a commonly used anesthetic combination (ketamine-xylazine) highlights the importance of identifying anesthetic effects on a range of respiratory motor behaviors.

Compensatory effects following unilateral diaphragm paralysis

Injury to nerves innervating respiratory muscles such as the diaphragm muscle results in significant respiratory compromise. Electromyography (EMG) and transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) measurements reflect diaphragm activation and force generation. Immediately after unilateral diaphragm denervation (DNV), ventilatory behaviors can be accomplished without impairment, but Pdi generated during higher force non-ventilatory behaviors is significantly decreased. We hypothesized that 1) the initial reduction in Pdi during higher force behaviors after DNV is ameliorated after 14 days, and 2) changes in Pdi over time after DNV are associated with concordant changes in contralateral diaphragm EMG activity and ventilatory parameters. In adult male rats, the reduced Pdi during occlusion (∼40% immediately after DNV) was ameliorated to ∼20% reduction after 14 days. Contralateral diaphragm EMG activity did not significantly change immediately or 14days after DNV compared to the pre-injury baseline for any motor behavior. Taken together, these results suggest that over time after DNV compensatory changes in inspiratory related muscle activation may partially restore the ability to generate Pdi during higher force behaviors.

A neurochemical closed-loop controller for deep brain stimulation: toward individualized smart neuromodulation therapies

Current strategies for optimizing deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy involve multiple postoperative visits. During each visit, stimulation parameters are adjusted until desired therapeutic effects are achieved and adverse effects are minimized. However, the efficacy of these therapeutic parameters may decline with time due at least in part to disease progression, interactions between the host environment and the electrode, and lead migration. As such, development of closed-loop control systems that can respond to changing neurochemical environments, tailoring DBS therapy to individual patients, is paramount for improving the therapeutic efficacy of DBS. Evidence obtained using electrophysiology and imaging techniques in both animals and humans suggests that DBS works by modulating neural network activity. Recently, animal studies have shown that stimulation-evoked changes in neurotransmitter release that mirror normal physiology are associated with the therapeutic benefits of DBS. Therefore, to fully understand the neurophysiology of DBS and optimize its efficacy, it may be necessary to look beyond conventional electrophysiological analyses and characterize the neurochemical effects of therapeutic and non-therapeutic stimulation. By combining electrochemical monitoring and mathematical modeling techniques, we can potentially replace the trial-and-error process used in clinical programming with deterministic approaches that help attain optimal and stable neurochemical profiles. In this manuscript, we summarize the current understanding of electrophysiological and electrochemical processing for control of neuromodulation therapies. Additionally, we describe a proof-of-principle closed-loop controller that characterizes DBS-evoked dopamine changes to adjust stimulation parameters in a rodent model of DBS. The work described herein represents the initial steps toward achieving a “smart” neuroprosthetic system for treatment of neurologic and psychiatric disorders.