Hypergravity induced disruption of cerebellar motor coordination

Sci Rep. 2020 Mar 10;10(1):4452. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-61453-w.

Abstract

The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movements for balanced motor activity in a normal gravity condition. It remains unknown how hypergravity is associated with cerebellum-dependent motor behaviors and Purkinje cell's activities. In order to investigate the relationship between gravity and cerebellar physiology, we measured AMPA-mediated fast currents and mGluR1-mediated slow currents of cerebellar Purkinje cells along with cerebellum-dependent behaviors such as the footprint and irregular ladder under a hypergravity condition. We found abnormal animal behaviors in the footprint and irregular ladder tests under hypergravity. They are correlated with decreased AMPA and mGluR1-mediated synaptic currents of Purkinje cells. These results indicate that gravity regulates the activity of Purkinje cells, thereby modulating cerebellum-dependent motor outputs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Cerebellum / metabolism
  • Cerebellum / pathology*
  • Hypergravity*
  • Male
  • Motor Activity*
  • Purkinje Cells / metabolism
  • Purkinje Cells / pathology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / metabolism
  • alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate
  • metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1
  • alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid