Evidence for Two Subpopulations of Cerebrospinal Fluid-Contacting Neurons with Opposite GABAergic Signaling in Adult Mouse Spinal Cord.

Spinal cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons (CSF-cNs) form an evolutionary conserved bipolar cell population localized around the central canal of all vertebrates. CSF-cNs were shown to express molecular markers of neuronal immaturity into adulthood; however, the impact of their incomplete maturation on the chloride (Cl) homeostasis as well as GABAergic signaling remains unknown. Using adult mice from both sexes, in situ hybridization revealed that a proportion of spinal CSF-cNs (18.

The role of intraspinal sensory neurons in the control of quadrupedal locomotion.

From swimming to walking and flying, animals have evolved specific locomotor strategies to thrive in different habitats. All types of locomotion depend on the integration of motor commands and sensory information to generate precisely coordinated movements. Cerebrospinal-fluid-contacting neurons (CSF-cN) constitute a vertebrate sensory system that monitors CSF composition and flow.

Evidence for PKD2L1-positive neurons distant from the central canal in the ventromedial spinal cord and medulla of the adult mouse.

Neurons in contact with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are found around the medullo-spinal central canal (CC) in adult mice. These neurons (CSF-cNs), located within or below the ependymal cell layer, known as the stem cell niche, present a characteristic morphology with a dendrite projecting to the CC and ending with a protrusion. They are GABAergic, present an intermediate neuronal maturity and selectively express PKD2L1, a member of the transient receptor potential channel superfamily with sensory properties.

Loss of inhibitory synapses causes locomotor network dysfunction of the rat spinal cord during prolonged maintenance in vitro.

The isolated spinal cord of the neonatal rat is widely employed to clarify the basic mechanisms of network development or the early phase of degeneration after injury. Nevertheless, this preparation survives in Krebs solution up to 24 h only, making it desirable to explore approaches to extend its survival for longitudinal studies. The present report shows that culturing the spinal cord in oxygenated enriched Basal Medium Eagle (BME) provided excellent preservation of neurons (including motoneurons), glia and primary afferents (including dorsal root ganglia) for up to 72 h.

GABA receptors modulate Ca but not G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K channels in cerebrospinal-fluid contacting neurones of mouse brainstem.

Key Points: Medullo-spinal CSF contacting neurones (CSF-cNs) located around the central canal are conserved in all vertebrates and suggested to be a novel sensory system intrinsic to the CNS. CSF-cNs receive GABAergic inhibitory synaptic inputs involving ionotropic GABA receptors, but the contribution of metabotropic GABA receptors (GABA -Rs) has not yet been studied. Here, we indicate that CSF-cNs express functional GABA -Rs that inhibit postsynaptic calcium channels but fail to activate inhibitory potassium channel of the Kir3-type.