Team 3
Biology and Physiopathology of the Spinal Cord

Network, Cellular, and Molecular Mechanisms of Motoneuron Excitability in ALS and Spinal Cord Injury

Our research examines how ion channels shape the electrophysiological properties of motoneuron subpopulations between juvenile and adult stages, and how these changes contribute to their selective vulnerability in a mouse model of ALS. We combine in vivo intracellular recordings with viral manipulation of gene expression to address this question.

This work connects with a project on motoneuron bistability, a key mechanism in motor control and posture, where in vivo electrophysiology helps link bistability, motoneuron subtypes, and motor recruitment in the context of spinal cord injury and spasticity.

Finally, the QUIN project extends this research toward a translational approach, developing a quantitative ultrasound imaging method to characterise motor units and neuromuscular coupling, with preclinical validation in an ALS mouse model. The goal is to identify new diagnostic biomarkers for early detection of ALS in patients.