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Lea Ziskind-Conhaim
 Professor
Ph.D., 1976, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem
Contact Information
Email: lconhaim@physiology.wisc.edu
(608) 263-3382 Phone
(608) 265-5512 Fax
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Research Interests
Synaptic and cellular mechanisms underlying locomotor-like rhythms in the mammalian spinal cord
Research in my laboratory focuses on identifying interneurons
that are functional components of neural networks generating locomotor-like rhythms
in the mammalian spinal cord. Locomotion in vertebrates is produced by autonomous
spinal circuits, central pattern generators (CPGs) that are responsible for
movements and can function independently of descending and peripheral inputs.
The long-term goals of our studies are: 1) to examine the electrophysiological
and morphological properties of subpopulations of locomotor-related excitatory
and inhibitory interneurons, and to determine their probable functions in the
locomotor CPG, and 2) to elucidate the synaptic and intrinsic mechanisms by
which the interneurons generate and coordinate locomotor-like rhythms in the
mammalian spinal cord.
Progress in identifying interneurons that are functionally integrated component of the CPG has been slow, partly because determining synaptic circuitry requires the classification of particular neuronal populations. To overcome some of the technical limitations of interneuron identification in the isolated spinal cord, transgenic mice have been used with the intention of characterizing interneurons with genetic markers. An innovative approach has recently become available with the discovery that subpopulations of ventral interneurons can be distinguished by combinatorial expression of transcription factors. To visualize genetically distinct interneuronal populations, transcription factors are used to control the expression of the reporter gene green fluorescent protein (GFP). GFP expression in specific excitatory and inhibitory interneurons allows us to visually target them for electrophysiological, morphological and immunohistochemical studies. To characterize the role of GFP-expressing interneuronal populations in the locomotor CPG, whole-cell patch clamp recordings are performed to correlate their electrical activity with induced locomotor-like rhythmic motor outputs. Those interneurons are labeled with the intracellular marker neurobiotin to further study their morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics. Based on the pattern of dendritic arborization and axonal projections of neurobiotin-labeled interneurons, possible synaptic connections are identified. The properties of synaptic transmission between functionally identified interneurons are examined using paired intracellular recordings and real-time images of fast voltage-sensitive dyes. Findings from these studies will increase our understanding of the cellular and synaptic mechanisms that underlie integrated rhythmic activity in distinct neuronal populations that constitute the CPG networks in the mouse spinal cord.
Neurochemically induced rhythmic membrane depolarizations
in neurobiotin-filled HB9/GFP interneuron. Rhythmic firing is synchronous
with ventral root bursts, making the interneuron a putative constituent of rhythm-generating network.
Ziskind Lab
Selected Publications
- Hinckley C. and Ziskind-Conhaim L. (2006).
Electrical Coupling between Locomotor-Related Excitatory Interneurons in the Mammalian Spinal Cord.
J Neurosci August 16, 2006, 26(33):8477-8483; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0395-06.2006
Abstract
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- Ziskind-Conhaim L. and Redman S.J. (2005).
Spatiotemporal Patterns of Dorsal Root-Evoked Network Activity
in the Neonatal Rat Spinal Cord: Optical and Intracellular Recordings.
J Neurophysiol (May 11, 2005). doi:10.1152/jn.00209.2005.
Abstract
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- Hinckley C A, Hartley, R, Wu, L, Todd, A and Ziskind-Conhaim, L (2005).
Locomotor-Like Rhythms in a Genetically Distinct Cluster of Interneurons
in the Mammalian Spinal Cord. J Neurophysiol 93: 1439-1449.
Abstract
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- Hinckley CA, Seebach B, and Ziskind-Conhaim L (2005).
Distinct roles of glycinergic and GABAergic inhibition in
coordinating locomotor-like rhythms in the mouse spinal cord.
Neurosci 131:745-758.
Abstract
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- Lea Ziskind-Conhaim. Bao-Xi Gao, and Christopher Hinckley (2003). Ethanol dual modulatory actions on spontaneous postsynaptic currents in spinal motoneurons. J Neurophysiol 89:806-813.
Abstract | Full Text | PDF
- Rezan Demir, Bao-Xi Gao, Meyer B. Jackson, and Lea Ziskind-Conhaim (2002). Interactions Between Multiple Rhythm Generators Produce Complex Patterns of Oscillation in the Developing Rat Spinal Cord J Neurophysiol 87: 1094-1105.
Abstract | Full Text | PDF
- Gao, B-X, Stricker C and Ziskind-Conhaim, L (2001). Transition from GABAergic to glycinergic synaptic transmission in newly formed spinal networks. J Neuorphysiol 86:492-502.
Abstract | Full Text | PDF
- Cheng, G, Gao, B-X, Verbny, Y and Ziskind-Conhaim, L (1999). Ethanol reduces neuronal excitability and excitatory synaptic transmission in the developing rat spinal cord. Brain Res 845:224-231.
- Ziskind-Conhaim, L (1998). Physiological functions of GABA-induced depolarizations in the developing rat spinal cord. Perspectives on Dev Neurobiol 5: 279-287.
- Gao, B-X and Ziskind-Conhaim, L (1998). Development of ionic currents underlying changes in action potential waveforms in rat spinal motoneurons. J Neurophysiol 80:3047-3061
Abstract | Full Text
- Gao, B-X, Cheng, G and Ziskind-Conhaim, L (1998). Development of spontaneous synaptic transmission in the rat spinal cord. J Neurophysiol 79: 2277-2287.
Abstract | Full Text
- Redmond, L, Xie, H, Ziskind-Conhaim, L and Hockfield, S. (1997). Cues intrinsic to the spinal cord determine the pattern and timing of primary afferent growth. Dev Biol 182:205-218.
Abstract | Full Text
- Xie, H and Ziskind-Conhaim, L (1995). Blocking Ca2+-dependent synaptic release delays motoneuron differentiation in the rat spinal cord. J Neurosci 15:5900-5911.
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