Functionally distinct Purkinje cell types show temporal precision in encoding locomotion

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 117; no. 29; pp. 17330 - 17337
• Main Authors: Chang, Weipang, Pedroni, Andrea, Hohendorf, Victoria, Giacomello, Stefania, Hibi, Masahiko, Köster, Reinhard W., Ampatzis, Konstantinos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington National Academy of Sciences 21-07-2020
• Subjects: Biological Sciences; central pattern generator; Cerebellum; Circuits; Danio rerio; Heterogeneity; Locomotion; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Purkinje cells; Synapses; Zebrafish
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2005633117

Purkinje cells, the principal neurons of cerebellar computations, are believed to comprise a uniform neuronal population of cells, each with similar functional properties. Here, we show an undiscovered heterogeneity of adult zebrafish Purkinje cells, revealing the existence of anatomically and functionally distinct cell types. Dual patch-clamp recordings showed that the cerebellar circuit contains all Purkinje cell types that cross-communicate extensively using chemical and electrical synapses. Further activation of spinal central pattern generators (CPGs) revealed unique phaselocked activity from each Purkinje cell type during the locomotor cycle. Thus, we show intricately organized Purkinje cell networks in the adult zebrafish cerebellum that encode the locomotion rhythm differentially, and we suggest that these organizational properties may also apply to other cerebellar functions