INTRINSIC FUNCTION OF A NEURONAL NETWORK - A VERTEBRATE CENTRAL PATTERN GENERATOR

The cellular bases of vertebrate locomotor behaviour is reviewed using the lamprey as a model system. Forebrain and brainstem cell populatio ns initiate locomotor activity via reticulospinal fibers activating a spinal network comprised of glutamatergic and glycinergic interneurons . The role of different subtypes of Ca2+ channels, Ca2+ dependent K+ c hannels and voltage dependent NMDA channels at the neuronal and networ k level is in focus as well as the effects of different metabotropic, aminergic and peptidergic modulators that target these ion channels. T his is one of the few vertebrate networks that is understood at a cell ular level. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.