HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by McDearmid, J R Articles by Sillar, K T Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by McDearmid, J R Articles by Sillar, K T

Gatty Marine Laboratory, School of Biological & Medical Sciences, University of St Andrews, Fife, UK.

1. Neuromodulators can effect changes in neural network function by strengthening or weakening synapses between neurons via presynaptic control of transmitter release. We have examined the effects of two biogenic amines on inhibitory connections of a spinal rhythm generator in Xenopus tad poles. 2. Glycinergic inhibitory potentials occurring mid-cycle in motoneurons during swimming activity are reduced by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin) and enhanced by noradrenaline (NA). These opposing effects on inhibitory synaptic strength are mediated presynaptically where 5-HT decreases and NA increases the probability of glycine release from inhibitory terminals. 3. The amines also have contrasting effects on swimming: 5-HT increased motor burst durations while NA reduced swimming frequency. Aminergic modulation of glycinergic transmission may thus control fundamental parameters of swimming and force the spinal network to generate opposite extremes of its spectrum of possible outputs.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. Thirumalai and H. T. Cline Endogenous Dopamine Suppresses Initiation of Swimming in Prefeeding Zebrafish Larvae J Neurophysiol, September 1, 2008; 100(3): 1635 - 1648. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Rossignol, R. Dubuc, and J.-P. Gossard Dynamic Sensorimotor Interactions in Locomotion Physiol Rev, January 1, 2006; 86(1): 89 - 154. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Madriaga, L. C. McPhee, T. Chersa, K. J. Christie, and P. J. Whelan Modulation of Locomotor Activity by Multiple 5-HT and Dopaminergic Receptor Subtypes in the Neonatal Mouse Spinal Cord J Neurophysiol, September 1, 2004; 92(3): 1566 - 1576. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]