Development of Hindlimb Locomotor Activity in the Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) Studied in vitro

The isolated central nervous system of the bullfrog larva (tadpole) is a valuable model system for studying the development of central motor control because the neural activity for locomotion is expressed in vitro. Patterned synaptic activation of immature hindlimb motoneurons is present before the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1983-02, Vol.219 (4584), p.516-518
Main Authors: Stehouwer, Donald J., Farel, Paul B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action Potentials
Animal locomotion
Animals
Axons
Bullfrog
Central nervous system
Central Nervous System - physiology
Frogs
Hindlimb - innervation
Innervation
Larva
Larvae
Larval development
Locomotion
Motor Neurons - physiology
Nerves
Physiological aspects
Rana catesbeiana
Rana catesbeiana - physiology
Spinal Nerve roots
Spinal Nerve Roots - physiology
Tadpoles
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Summary:The isolated central nervous system of the bullfrog larva (tadpole) is a valuable model system for studying the development of central motor control because the neural activity for locomotion is expressed in vitro. Patterned synaptic activation of immature hindlimb motoneurons is present before the bones and muscles of the hindlimb differentiate, and it develops against the background of the tadpole's functionally mature motor program for tail oscillations. This activation of hindlimb motoneurons later produces patterned bursting that underlies coordinated stepping and frog kicks.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.6600518