Fig. 2: PVP facilitates forward locomotion through AVB.
From: Hierarchical competing inhibition circuits govern motor stability in C. elegans
a Schematic diagram of the optical activation of PVP by a specific expression of Chrimson (PVP::Chrimson). b i, Raster plots and quantification analysis of forward velocity from individual animals evoked by yellow light (2.55 mW/cm2) with or without ATR (n = 20 animals per group) (b i: p < 0.001, p = 0.9747). ii, Comparison of average optogenetics evoked forward velocities for both groups. The activation of PVP neurons evoked robust forward locomotion. The error bars represent the SEM. iii, Statistical analysis of increased forward velocities caused by PVP stimulation (b iii: p < 0.001). c Schematic showing major forward premotor interneurons downstream of PVP. “n” indicates the chemical synapse number (adapted from Wormweb.org). d i, Raster plots and quantification analysis of light-stimulated forward velocity from individual animals before (n = 19 animals) and after (n = 20 animals) the ablation of AVB and PVC (d i: p < 0.001, p = 0.2621). ii, Comparison of average optogenetics evoked forward velocities for both groups. PVP-facilitated forward locomotion was eliminated in the absence of AVB or PVC. The error bars represent the SEM. iii, Statistical analysis of increased forward velocities by PVP stimulation before and after ablation of AVB and PVC (d iii: p < 0.001). e–g Synaptic activity between PVP and AVB was analyzed by whole-cell recording on AVB (V clamp mode: n = 7 ( + ATR) and 5 (-ATR) animals. I clamp mode: n = 8 ( + ATR) and 7 (-ATR) animals.) (f ii: p = 0.0042, p = 0.2077, f iii: p = 0.0029, g ii: p = 0.001, p = 0.5004, g iii: p < 0.001). Black bars, light off. Yellow bars, light on. Yellow shaded, light stimulation. Yellow arrows: light stimulation for 5 s Animals #, the animal number used in the experiments. **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ns, not significant by two-tailed Student’s t test. Error bars, SEM. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
