The cellular and synaptic architecture of the mechanosensory dorsal horn

Abraira, V. E. et al. (2017) The cellular and synaptic architecture of the mechanosensory dorsal horn. Cell, 168(1-2), 295-310.e19. (doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.12.010) (PMID:28041852) (PMCID:PMC5236062)

Abstract

The deep dorsal horn is a poorly characterized spinal cord region implicated in processing low-threshold mechanoreceptor (LTMR) information. We report an array of mouse genetic tools for defining neuronal components and functions of the dorsal horn LTMR-recipient zone (LTMR-RZ), a role for LTMR-RZ processing in tactile perception, and the basic logic of LTMR-RZ organization. We found an unexpectedly high degree of neuronal diversity in the LTMR-RZ: seven excitatory and four inhibitory subtypes of interneurons exhibiting unique morphological, physiological, and synaptic properties. Remarkably, LTMRs form synapses on between four and 11 LTMR-RZ interneuron subtypes, while each LTMR-RZ interneuron subtype samples inputs from at least one to three LTMR classes, as well as spinal cord interneurons and corticospinal neurons. Thus, the LTMR-RZ is a somatosensory processing region endowed with a neuronal complexity that rivals the retina and functions to pattern the activity of ascending touch pathways that underlie tactile perception.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Boyle, Dr Kieran and Hughes, Dr David I
• Authors: Abraira, V. E., Kuehn, E. D., Chirila, A. M., Springel, M. W., Toliver, A. A., Zimmerman, A. L., Orefice, L. L., Boyle, K. A., Bai, L., Song, B. J., Bashista, K. A., O'Neill, T. G., Zhou, J., Tsan, C., Hoynoski, J., Rutlin, M., Kus, L., Niederkofler, V., Watanabe, M., Dymecki, S. M., Nelson, S. B., Heintz, N., Hughes, D. I., and Ginty, D. D.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Cell
• Publisher: Elsevier (Cell Press)
• ISSN: 0092-8674
• ISSN (Online): 1097-4172
• Published Online: 29 December 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Cell 168(1-2):295-310.e19
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
57107	1	Modulating cutaneous afferent input: Identifying a source of presynaptic (axo-axonic) inputs in the mouse spinal dorsal horn	David I Hughes	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)	BB/J000620/1	RI NEUROSCIENCE & PSYCHOLOGY