Glutamatergic Circuits in the Pedunculopontine Nucleus Modulate Multiple Motor Functions.
10.1007/s12264-024-01314-y
- Author:
Yanwang HUANG
1
;
Shangyi WANG
1
;
Qingxiu WANG
1
;
Chaowen ZHENG
1
;
Feng YANG
1
;
Lei WEI
1
;
Xintong ZHOU
1
;
Zuoren WANG
2
Author Information
1. Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
2. Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China. zuorenwang@ion.ac.cn.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Anterior gigantocellular reticular nucleus;
Caudal pontine reticular nucleus;
Glutamatergic neuron;
Pause-and-play;
Pedunculopontine nucleus;
Zona incerta
- MeSH:
Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus/physiology*;
Animals;
Neural Pathways/physiology*;
Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2/metabolism*;
Locomotion/physiology*;
Glutamic Acid/metabolism*;
Neurons/physiology*;
Male;
Mice;
Motor Activity/physiology*;
Zona Incerta/physiology*
- From:
Neuroscience Bulletin
2024;40(11):1713-1731
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The functional role of glutamatergic (vGluT2) neurons in the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) in modulating motor activity remains controversial. Here, we demonstrated that the activity of vGluT2 neurons in the rostral PPN is correlated with locomotion and ipsilateral head-turning. Beyond these motor functions, we found that these rostral PPN-vGluT2 neurons remarkably respond to salient stimuli. Furthermore, we systematically traced the upstream and downstream projections of these neurons and identified two downstream projections from these neurons to the caudal pontine reticular nucleus/anterior gigantocellular reticular nucleus (PnC/GiA) and the zona incerta (ZI). Our findings indicate that the projections to the PnC/GiA inhibit movement, consistent with 'pause-and-play' behavior, whereas those to the ZI promote locomotion, and others respond to a new 'pause-switch-play' pattern. Collectively, these findings elucidate the multifaceted influence of the PPN on motor functions and provide a robust theoretical framework for understanding its physiological and potential therapeutic implications.
