ArticleFrontiers in neural circuits2021
Freely Behaving Mice Can Brake and Turn During Optogenetic Stimulation of the Mesencephalic Locomotor Region.
Article in Frontiers in neural circuits, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers.
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Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 63 citations in OpenAlex.
- Speed-Dependent Turning Strategies in Quadrupedal Locomotion: Insights from Computational Modeling.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Speed-dependent turning strategies in quadrupedal locomotion: insights from computational modeling.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2026Article
- Cell-type specific sensory and motor activity in the cuneiform nucleus and pedunculopontine nucleus in mice.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Neural representation of self-initiated locomotion in the secondary motor cortex of mice across different environmental contexts.Communications biology · 2025Article
- Histamine-tuned subicular circuit mediates alert-driven accelerated locomotion in mice.Nature communications · 2024Article
- Human TRPV1 is an efficient thermogenetic actuator for chronic neuromodulation.Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS · 2024Article
- Article
- Optogenetic stimulation of vagal nerves for enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and β cell proliferation.Nature biomedical engineering · 2024Article
- STEERING FROM THE REAR: COORDINATION OF CENTRAL PATTERN GENERATORS UNDERLYING NAVIGATION BY ASCENDING INTERNEURONS.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2024Article
- The Mesencephalic Locomotor Region: Multiple Cell Types, Multiple Behavioral Roles, and Multiple Implications for Disease.The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry · 2024Review
- Dopamine-sensitive neurons in the mesencephalic locomotor region control locomotion initiation, stop, and turns.Cell reports · 2024Article
- Inhibitory medial zona incerta pathway drives exploratory behavior by inhibiting glutamatergic cuneiform neurons.Nature communications · 2024Article
- The Basal Ganglia and Mesencephalic Locomotor Region Connectivity Matrix.Current neuropharmacology · 2024Review
- Upregulation of breathing rate during running exercise by central locomotor circuits in mice.Nature communications · 2023Article
- Functional contribution of mesencephalic locomotor region nuclei to locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury.Cell reports. Medicine · 2023Article
- Brainstem neural mechanisms controlling locomotion with special reference to basal vertebrates.Frontiers in neural circuits · 2023Review
- Stimulation of the cuneiform nucleus enables training and boosts recovery after spinal cord injury.Brain : a journal of neurology · 2022Article
- From retina to motoneurons: A substrate for visuomotor transformation in salamanders.The Journal of comparative neurology · 2022Article
- Cholinergic Modulation of Locomotor Circuits in Vertebrates.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
- Networking brainstem and basal ganglia circuits for movement.Nature reviews. Neuroscience · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
A key function of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) is to control the speed of forward symmetrical locomotor movements. However, the ability of freely moving mammals to integrate environmental cues to brake and turn during MLR stimulation is poorly documented. Here, we investigated whether freely behaving mice could brake or turn, based on environmental cues during MLR stimulation. We photostimulated the cuneiform nucleus (part of the MLR) in mice expressing channelrhodopsin in Vglut2-positive neurons in a Cre-dependent manner (Vglut2-ChR2-EYFP) using optogenetics. We detected locomotor movements using deep learning. We used patch-clamp recordings to validate the functional expression of channelrhodopsin and neuroanatomy to visualize the stimulation sites. In the linear corridor, gait diagram and limb kinematics were similar during spontaneous and optogenetic-evoked locomotion. In the open-field arena, optogenetic stimulation of the MLR evoked locomotion, and increasing laser power increased locomotor speed. Mice could brake and make sharp turns (~90°) when approaching a corner during MLR stimulation in the open-field arena. The speed during the turn was scaled with the speed before the turn, and with the turn angle. Patch-clamp recordings in Vglut2-ChR2-EYFP mice show that blue light evoked short-latency spiking in MLR neurons. Our results strengthen the idea that different brainstem neurons convey braking/turning and MLR speed commands in mammals. Our study also shows that Vglut2-positive neurons of the cuneiform nucleus are a relevant target to increase locomotor activity without impeding the ability to brake and turn when approaching obstacles, thus ensuring smooth and adaptable navigation. Our observations may have clinical relevance since cuneiform nucleus stimulation is increasingly considered to improve locomotion function in pathological states such as Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, or stroke.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.