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

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

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience (2013-03-22)
Yingchuan B Qi, Michelle D Po, Patrick Mac, Taizo Kawano, Erik M Jorgensen, Mei Zhen, Yishi Jin
ABSTRACT

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

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Acetylcholine bromide, ≥99%
Sigma-Aldrich
Acetylcholine iodide, ≥97%
Sigma-Aldrich
Acetylcholine chloride, suitable for cell culture
Sigma-Aldrich
Acetylcholine chloride, pkg of 150 mg (per vial)
Sigma-Aldrich
Acetylcholine chloride, ≥99% (TLC)
Sigma-Aldrich
Acetylcholine chloride, ≥99% (TLC), free-flowing, Redi-Dri