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Ontogeny of Neuromuscular Specificity

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Neurobiology of Vertebrate Locomotion

Part of the book series: Wenner-Gren Center International Symposium Series ((WGS))

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Abstract

The development of specific connection patterns between spinal motoneurons and limb muscles has been the subject of numerous investigations in recent years. In this chapter, I will review the literature focusing primarily on the work done in the chick embryo. Where appropriate, I will draw parallels to work on other species if relevant data are available. First, I will describe the normal anatomical organization of motoneuron pools considering among other issues whether it reflects functional or other kinds of groupings. I will then describe the ontogeny of limb innervation, asking whether functional activity or the process of naturally occurring cell death contributes to the patterning process. In the next section, I will discuss various manipulations of the peripheral tissues and the resultant maps, asking what developmental processes are responsible for the various patterns observed. In the final section I will speculate about the possible mechanisms which guide axons to their targets.

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Authors
  1. Margaret Hollyday
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology III, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    Sten Grillner  & Hans Forssberg  & 

  2. Department of Biology, Washington University, St Louis, USA

    Paul S. G. Stein

  3. Department of Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA

    Douglas G. Stuart

  4. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, USA

    Richard M. Herman

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© 1986 The Wenner-Gren Center

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Hollyday, M. (1986). Ontogeny of Neuromuscular Specificity. In: Grillner, S., Stein, P.S.G., Stuart, D.G., Forssberg, H., Herman, R.M. (eds) Neurobiology of Vertebrate Locomotion. Wenner-Gren Center International Symposium Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09148-5_26

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