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Neuron-specific inactivation of Wt1 alters locomotion in mice and changes interneuron composition in the spinal cord

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posted on 2023-05-20, 01:57 authored by Schnerwitzki, D, Perry, S, Ivanova, A, Caixeta, FV, Cramer, P, Gunther, S, Weber, K, Tafreshiha, A, Becker, L, Vargas Panesso, IL, Klopstock, T, Hrabe de Angelis, M, Schmidt, M, Kullander, K, Englert, C
Locomotion is coordinated by neuronal circuits of the spinal cord. Recently, dI6 neurons were shown to participate in the control of locomotion. A subpopulation of dI6 neurons expresses the Wilms tumor suppressor gene Wt1. However, the function of Wt1 in these cells is not understood. Here, we aimed to identify behavioral changes and cellular alterations in the spinal cord associated with Wt1 deletion. Locomotion analyses of mice with neuron-specific Wt1 deletion revealed a slower walk with a decreased stride frequency and an increased stride length. These mice showed changes in their fore-/hindlimb coordination, which were accompanied by a loss of contralateral projections in the spinal cord. Neonates with Wt1 deletion displayed an increase in uncoordinated hindlimb movements and their motor neuron output was arrhythmic with a decreased frequency. The population size of dI6, V0, and V2a neurons in the developing spinal cord of conditional Wt1 mutants was significantly altered. These results show that the development of particular dI6 neurons depends on Wt1 expression and that loss of Wt1 is associated with alterations in locomotion.

History

Publication title

Life science alliance

Issue

4

Pagination

1-15

ISSN

2575-1077

Publisher

Life Science Alliance

Place of publication

United States

Rights statement

Copyright 2018 Schnerwitzki et al. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Repository Status

  • Open

Socio-economic Objectives

Other health not elsewhere classified

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