Hormonal modulation of sensorimotor integration.

Neuronal circuits commonly receive simultaneous inputs from descending, ascending, and hormonal systems. Thus far, however, most such inputs have been studied individually to determine their influence on a given circuit. Here, we examine the integrated action of the hormone crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) and the gastropyloric receptor (GPR) proprioceptor neuron on the biphasic gastric mill (chewing) rhythm driven by the projection neuron modulatory commissural neuron 1 (MCN1) in the isolated crab stomatogastric ganglion.

Presynaptic inhibition selectively weakens peptidergic cotransmission in a small motor system.

The presence and influence of neurons containing multiple neurotransmitters is well established, including the ability of coreleased transmitters to influence the same or different postsynaptic targets. Little is known, however, regarding whether presynaptic regulation of multitransmitter neurons influences all transmission from these neurons. Using the identified neurons and motor networks in the crab stomatogastric ganglion, we document the ability of presynaptic inhibition to selectively inhibit peptidergic cotransmission.

Parallel regulation of a modulator-activated current via distinct dynamics underlies comodulation of motor circuit output.

The cellular mechanisms underlying comodulation of neuronal networks are not elucidated in most systems. We are addressing this issue by determining the mechanism by which a peptide hormone, crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP), modulates the biphasic (protraction/retraction) gastric mill (chewing) rhythm driven by the projection neuron MCN1 in the crab stomatogastric ganglion. MCN1 activates this rhythm by slow peptidergic (CabTRP Ia) and fast GABAergic excitation of the reciprocally inhibitory central pattern generator neurons LG (protraction) and Int1 (retraction), respectively.

Divergent co-transmitter actions underlie motor pattern activation by a modulatory projection neuron.

Co-transmission is a common means of neuronal communication, but its consequences for neuronal signaling within a defined neuronal circuit remain unknown in most systems. We are addressing this issue in the crab stomatogastric nervous system by characterizing how the identified modulatory commissural neuron (MCN)1 uses its co-transmitters to activate the gastric mill (chewing) rhythm in the stomatogastric ganglion (STG). MCN1 contains gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) plus the peptides proctolin and Cancer borealis tachykinin-related peptide Ia (CabTRP Ia), which it co-releases during the retractor phase of the gastric mill rhythm to influence both retractor and protractor neurons.

Proprioceptor regulation of motor circuit activity by presynaptic inhibition of a modulatory projection neuron.

Phasically active sensory systems commonly influence rhythmic motor activity via synaptic actions on the relevant circuit and/or motor neurons. Using the crab stomatogastric nervous system (STNS), we identified a distinct synaptic action by which an identified proprioceptor, the gastropyloric muscle stretch receptor (GPR) neuron, regulates the gastric mill (chewing) motor rhythm. Previous work showed that rhythmically stimulating GPR in a gastric mill-like pattern, in the isolated STNS, elicits the gastric mill rhythm via its activation of two identified projection neurons, modulatory commissural neuron 1 (MCN1) and commissural projection neuron 2, in the commissural ganglia.