Loss of ETV1/ER81 in motor neurons leads to reduced monosynaptic inputs from proprioceptive sensory neurons

Abstract

In the stretch reflex circuit, proprioceptive afferents establish monosynaptic connections with spinal motor neurons that project to the same muscle. The ETS transcription factor ETV1/ER81 is expressed in all proprioceptive afferents, but only certain groups of motor neurons in the spinal cord of the mouse. Conditional ablation of Er81 expression from motor neurons reveals selective defects in the establishment of stretch reflex connections within motor pools that would normally express Er81.