ePoster

Molecular markers of oculomotor motoneurons in adult mice

Alonso Cerdeño-Arévalo, Rebeca Mejías, Angel Manuel Pastor
FENS Forum 2024(2024)
Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Conference

FENS Forum 2024

Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Resources

Authors & Affiliations

Alonso Cerdeño-Arévalo, Rebeca Mejías, Angel Manuel Pastor

Abstract

Classically, oculomotor motoneurons (MNs) have been described as a single homogeneous group based on their firing pattern. However, recent anatomical and electrophysiological findings from our group suggest that there are subpopulations of neurons in these nuclei, i.e., those innervating single (SIF) and multiply innervated muscle fibers (MIF) differ in their neuronal sensitivity and recruitment order.​The diversity of MNs in the mature spinal cord has been extensively studied, revealing a variety of markers that identify subgroups, such as alpha, gamma, slow and fast fatigable, and fatigue-resistant MNs. Similar studies have not been performed in midbrain MNs to date. Besides, unique features of oculomotor MNs might unveil why these nuclei show exceptional resistance to neurodegenerative diseases.We explored the diversity among ChAT (Choline Acetyltransferase)-positive neurons in the oculomotor nuclei of adult mice (naïve C57Bl6/J and ChATCre::tdTomato). Remarkably, we identified groups of MNs resembling alpha and gamma subtypes, even though oculomotor nuclei lack the distinctive monosynaptic reflex seen in the spinal cord.Funded by PID2021-124300NB-I00 (MCIN/AEI/FEDER) and P20_00529 (Junta de Andalucía-FEDER).

Unique ID: fens-24/molecular-markers-oculomotor-motoneurons-d2b2431b