| First Author | Abraira VE | Year | 2017 |
| Journal | Cell | Volume | 168 |
| Issue | 1-2 | Pages | 295-310.e19 |
| PubMed ID | 28041852 | Mgi Jnum | J:239228 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5827995 | Doi | 10.1016/j.cell.2016.12.010 |
| Citation | Abraira VE, et al. (2017) The Cellular and Synaptic Architecture of the Mechanosensory Dorsal Horn. Cell 168(1-2):295-310.e19 |
| abstractText | The deep dorsal horn is a poorly characterized spinal cord region implicated in processing low-threshold mechanoreceptor (LTMR) information. We report an array of mouse genetic tools for defining neuronal components and functions of the dorsal horn LTMR-recipient zone (LTMR-RZ), a role for LTMR-RZ processing in tactile perception, and the basic logic of LTMR-RZ organization. We found an unexpectedly high degree of neuronal diversity in the LTMR-RZ: seven excitatory and four inhibitory subtypes of interneurons exhibiting unique morphological, physiological, and synaptic properties. Remarkably, LTMRs form synapses on between four and 11 LTMR-RZ interneuron subtypes, while each LTMR-RZ interneuron subtype samples inputs from at least one to three LTMR classes, as well as spinal cord interneurons and corticospinal neurons. Thus, the LTMR-RZ is a somatosensory processing region endowed with a neuronal complexity that rivals the retina and functions to pattern the activity of ascending touch pathways that underlie tactile perception. |
