Functional analysis of neuronal circuits that generate locomotion in zebrafish

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Systems molecular ethology to understand the operating principle of the nervous system
• Project/Area Number: 20115007
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: Okazaki Research Facilities, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
• Principal Investigator: HIGASHIJIMA Shinichi 大学共同利用機関法人自然科学研究機構(岡崎共通研究施設), 岡崎統合バイオサイエンスセンター, 准教授 (80270479)
• Project Period (FY): 2008-11-13 – 2013-03-31
• Keywords: ゼブラフィッシュ / 運動 / 神経回路 / 脊髄

Research Abstract

Neuronal circuits that generate locomotion in mammals are not well understood. In this study, we studied locomotor circuits in larval zebrafish, by using a number of transgenic zebrafish expressing fluorescent protein in a particular class of neurons. We have revealed the followings: (1) a specialized class of commissural inhibitory neurons play a critical role for determining the direction of an escape behavior, (2) multiple types of V0 neurons are produced by two distinct mechanisms; from heterogeneous p0 progenitors and from the same p0 progenitor, but in a time-dependent manner, (3) Chx10-expressing neurons in the hindbrain play an essential role for providing excitation to the spinal locomotor circuits during zebrafish swimming.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Hindbrain V2a neurons in the excitation of spinal locomotor circuits during zebrafish swimming (2013)
  • Author(s): Kimura, Y., Satou, C., Fujioka, S., Shoji, W., Umeda, K., Ishizuka, T., Yawo, H., and Higashijima, S.
  • Journal Title: Current Biology
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Origin of excitation underlying locomotion in the spinal circuit of zebrafishOrigin of excitation underlying locomotion in the spinal circuit of zebrafish (2012)
  • Author(s): Eklof-Ljunggren, E., Haupt, S., Ausborn, J., Dehnisch, I., Uhlen, P., Higashijima, S., and El Manira, A.
  • Journal Title: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) Volume: 109 Pages: 5511-5516
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Generation of multiple classes of V0 neurons in zebrafish spinal cord : progenitor heterogeneity and temporal control of neuronal diversity (2012)
  • Author(s): Satou, C., Kimura, Y., and Higashijima, S.
  • Journal Title: J. Neuroscience Volume: 32 Pages: 1771-1783
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Mapping a sensory-motor network onto a structural and functional ground plan in the hindbrain (2011)
  • Author(s): Koyama, M., Kinkhabwala, A., Satou, C., Higashijima, S., and Fetcho, J.R.
  • Journal Title: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) Volume: 108 Pages: 1170-1175
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] A structural and functional ground plan for neurons in the hindbrain of zebrafish (2011)
  • Author(s): Kinkhabwara, A., Riley, M., Koyama, M., Monen, J., Satou, C., Kimura, Y., Higashijima, S., and Fetcho, J.R.
  • Journal Title: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) Volume: 108 Pages: 1164-1169
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Functional role of a specialized class of spinal commissural inhibitory neurons during fast escapes in zebrafish (2009)
  • Author(s): Satou, C., Kimura, Y., Kohashi, T., Horikawa, K., Takeda, H., Oda, Y., and Higashijima, S.
  • Journal Title: J. Neuroscience Volume: 29 Pages: 6780-6793
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Functional analysis of locomotor circuits in the spinal cord and brainstem in zebrafish (2012)
  • Author(s): 東島、木村、佐藤
  • Organizer: 第35回日本神経科学大会
  • Place of Presentation: 名古屋
  • Year and Date: 2012-09-18
• [Presentation] Development of V2 and V0 neurons in zebrafish spinal cord (2012)
  • Author(s): Higashijima, S.
  • Organizer: 19th biennial meeting of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience (ISDN-2012)
  • Place of Presentation: ムンバイ(インド)
  • Year and Date: 2012-01-13
• [Presentation] Functional analysis of locomotor circuits in the spinal cord and brainstem in zebrafish (2011)
  • Author(s): 東島、木村、佐藤
  • Organizer: 第34回日本分子生物学会
  • Place of Presentation: 横浜
  • Year and Date: 2011-12-13
• [Presentation] Functional analysis of locomotor circuits in the spinal cord and brainstem in zebrafish (2011)
  • Author(s): 東島、木村、佐藤
  • Organizer: 第34回日本神経科学大会
  • Place of Presentation: 横浜
  • Year and Date: 2011-09-15
• [Presentation] Development and function of V2 neuron in zebrafish spinal cord (2010)
  • Author(s): Higashijima, S.
  • Organizer: 2nd Joint Meeting of the French and Japanese Societies for Developmental Biology
  • Place of Presentation: パリ(フランス)
  • Year and Date: 2010-05-27
• [Presentation] Development and function of spinal locomotor circuits in zebrafish (2009)
  • Author(s): 東島、佐藤、木村
  • Organizer: 第32回日本神経科学大会
  • Place of Presentation: 名古屋
  • Year and Date: 2009-09-16