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Spinal Interneurons

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Neuroscience in the 21st Century

Abstract

This chapter deals with the neurons that constitute the majority of spinal neurons and are the main source of input to motoneurons, and therefore of critical importance for all motor reactions. The description of spinal interneurons focuses on the properties of their main populations and on the operation of basic interneuronal networks, both in animals and humans.

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Abbreviations

C T and L segments:

Cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal cord segments

EPSPs:

Excitatory postsynaptic potentials

GABA:

Gamma aminobutyric acid

HRP:

Horseradish peroxidise

IPSPs:

Inhibitory postsynaptic potentials

NA:

Noradrenaline

5-HT:

Serotonin

VGLUT1:

Vesicular glutamate transporter one

VGLUT2:

Vesicular glutamate transporter two

WGA:

Wheat germ agglutinin

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Acknowledgments

The research work in author’s laboratory has been supported by grants from the Swedish Research Council (15393-01) and from the NINDS/NIH (R01 NS040863). Comments from Dr. Robert Burke are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Box 432, Göteborg, SE, 405 30, Sweden

    Prof. Elzbieta Jankowska

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  1. Prof. Elzbieta Jankowska
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Correspondence to Elzbieta Jankowska .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Neurobiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA

    Donald W. Pfaff

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Jankowska, E. (2013). Spinal Interneurons. In: Pfaff, D.W. (eds) Neuroscience in the 21st Century. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1997-6_34

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