Extensor motoneurone properties are altered immediately before and during fictive locomotion in the adult decerebrate rat

摘要

Key points class="unordered" style="list-style-type:disc"> This is the first report, in adult decerebrate rats, to examine intracellular hindlimb motoneurone properties during quiescence, fictive locomotion and a tonic period immediately before fictive locomotion that is characterized by increased peripheral nerve activity. It is shown for the first time during fictive locomotion that motoneurones become more responsive in the tonic period, suggesting that the motoneurone pool becomes primed before patterned motor output commences. Spike frequency adaptation exists in quiescence and during fictive locomotion during constant excitation with injected current but not during centrally driven fictive locomotion. Motoneurones within the extensor motor pool show changes in excitability even when they are not directly involved in locomotion. The data show increased responsiveness of motoneurones during locomotion via a lowered threshold for spike initiation and decreased rheobase.