Rapid and Reversible Effects of Activity on Acetylcholine Receptor Density at the Neuromuscular Junction in Vivo

Science ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 286 (5439) ◽  
pp. 503-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Akaaboune ◽  
Susan M. Culican ◽  
Stephen G. Turney ◽  
Jeff W. Lichtman
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptor ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Neuromuscular Junctions ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Quantitative Fluorescence ◽  
Living Adult ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptor Density

Quantitative fluorescence imaging was used to study the regulation of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) number and density at neuromuscular junctions in living adult mice. At fully functional synapses, AChRs have a half-life of about 14 days. However, 2 hours after neurotransmission was blocked, the half-life of the AChRs was now less than a day; the rate was 25 times faster than before. Most of the lost receptors were not quickly replaced. Direct muscle stimulation or restoration of synaptic transmission inhibited this process. AChRs that were removed from nonfunctional synapses resided for hours in the perijunctional membrane before being locally internalized. Dispersed AChRs could also reaggregate at the junction once neurotransmission was restored. The rapid and reversible alterations in AChR density at the neuromuscular junction in vivo parallel changes thought to occur in the central nervous system at synapses undergoing potentiation and depression.

scholarly journals Regulatory Function of Sympathetic Innervation on the Endo/Lysosomal Trafficking of Acetylcholine Receptor

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatjana Straka ◽  
Charlotte Schröder ◽  
Andreas Roos ◽  
Laxmikanth Kollipara ◽  
Albert Sickmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptor ◽  
Ribosomal Proteins ◽  
Neuromuscular Junctions ◽  
Sympathetic Neurons ◽  
Sympathetic Innervation ◽  
Regulatory Function ◽  
Hindlimb Muscles ◽  
Nerve Muscle

Recent studies have demonstrated that neuromuscular junctions are co-innervated by sympathetic neurons. This co-innervation has been shown to be crucial for neuromuscular junction morphology and functional maintenance. To improve our understanding of how sympathetic innervation affects nerve–muscle synapse homeostasis, we here used in vivo imaging, proteomic, biochemical, and microscopic approaches to compare normal and sympathectomized mouse hindlimb muscles. Live confocal microscopy revealed reduced fiber diameters, enhanced acetylcholine receptor turnover, and increased amounts of endo/lysosomal acetylcholine-receptor-bearing vesicles. Proteomics analysis of sympathectomized skeletal muscles showed that besides massive changes in mitochondrial, sarcomeric, and ribosomal proteins, the relative abundance of vesicular trafficking markers was affected by sympathectomy. Immunofluorescence and Western blot approaches corroborated these findings and, in addition, suggested local upregulation and enrichment of endo/lysosomal progression and autophagy markers, Rab 7 and p62, at the sarcomeric regions of muscle fibers and neuromuscular junctions. In summary, these data give novel insights into the relevance of sympathetic innervation for the homeostasis of muscle and neuromuscular junctions. They are consistent with an upregulation of endocytic and autophagic trafficking at the whole muscle level and at the neuromuscular junction.

scholarly journals Replication and Clearance of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus from the Brains of Animals Vaccinated with Chimeric SIN/VEE Viruses

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (6) ◽  
pp. 2784-2796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Slobodan Paessler ◽  
Haolin Ni ◽  
Olga Petrakova ◽  
Rafik Z. Fayzulin ◽  
Nadezhda Yun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis ◽  
Challenge Virus ◽  
Equine Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Different Strains

ABSTRACT Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is an important, naturally emerging zoonotic pathogen. Recent outbreaks in Venezuela and Colombia in 1995, involving an estimated 100,000 human cases, indicate that VEEV still poses a serious public health threat. To develop a safe, efficient vaccine that protects against disease resulting from VEEV infection, we generated chimeric Sindbis (SIN) viruses expressing structural proteins of different strains of VEEV and analyzed their replication in vitro and in vivo, as well as the characteristics of the induced immune responses. None of the chimeric SIN/VEE viruses caused any detectable disease in adult mice after either intracerebral (i.c.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation, and all chimeras were more attenuated than the vaccine strain, VEEV TC83, in 6-day-old mice after i.c. infection. All vaccinated mice were protected against lethal encephalitis following i.c., s.c., or intranasal (i.n.) challenge with the virulent VEEV ZPC738 strain (ZPC738). In spite of the absence of clinical encephalitis in vaccinated mice challenged with ZPC738 via i.n. or i.c. route, we regularly detected high levels of infectious challenge virus in the central nervous system (CNS). However, infectious virus was undetectable in the brains of all immunized animals at 28 days after challenge. Hamsters vaccinated with chimeric SIN/VEE viruses were also protected against s.c. challenge with ZPC738. Taken together, our findings suggest that these chimeric SIN/VEE viruses are safe and efficacious in adult mice and hamsters and are potentially useful as VEEV vaccines. In addition, immunized animals provide a useful model for studying the mechanisms of the anti-VEEV neuroinflammatory response, leading to the reduction of viral titers in the CNS and survival of animals.

scholarly journals Dystroglycan Overexpression in Vivo Alters Acetylcholine Receptor Aggregation at the Neuromuscular Junction

2000 ◽  
Vol 227 (2) ◽  
pp. 595-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.David Heathcote ◽  
Jonathan M Ekman ◽  
Kevin P Campbell ◽  
Earl W Godfrey
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptor ◽  
Receptor Aggregation

scholarly journals Targeting of the ETS Factor Gabpα Disrupts Neuromuscular Junction Synaptic Function

2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 3470-3480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra A. O'Leary ◽  
Peter G. Noakes ◽  
Nick A. Lavidis ◽  
Ismail Kola ◽  
Paul J. Hertzog ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptor ◽  
Neuromuscular Junctions ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Single Point Mutation ◽  
Structural Formation ◽  
Ga Binding Protein

ABSTRACT The GA-binding protein (GABP) transcription factor has been shown in vitro to regulate the expression of the neuromuscular proteins utrophin, acetylcholine esterase, and acetylcholine receptor subunits δ and ε through the N-box promoter motif (5′-CCGGAA-3′), but its in vivo function remains unknown. A single point mutation within the N-box of the gene encoding the acetylcholine receptor ε subunit has been identified in several patients suffering from postsynaptic congenital myasthenic syndrome, implicating the GA-binding protein in neuromuscular function and disease. Since conventional gene targeting results in an embryonic-lethal phenotype, we used conditional targeting to investigate the role of GABPα in neuromuscular junction and skeletal muscle development. The diaphragm and soleus muscles from mutant mice display alterations in morphology and distribution of acetylcholine receptor clusters at the neuromuscular junction and neurotransmission properties consistent with reduced receptor function. Furthermore, we confirmed decreased expression of the acetylcholine receptor ε subunit and increased expression of the γ subunit in skeletal muscle tissues. Therefore, the GABP transcription factor aids in the structural formation and function of neuromuscular junctions by regulating the expression of postsynaptic genes.

scholarly journals Macrophage Stimulating Protein Is a Novel Neurotrophic Factor

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1341-1352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Cristina Stella ◽  
Alessandro Vercelli ◽  
Mariaelena Repici ◽  
Antonia Follenzi ◽  
Paolo M. Comoglio
Keyword(s):  
Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Peritoneal Macrophages ◽  
No Production ◽  
Macrophage Stimulating Protein ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
The Family ◽  
Ron Receptor ◽  
The Central Nervous System

Macrophage stimulating protein (MSP), also known as hepatocyte growth factor-like, is a soluble cytokine that belongs to the family of the plasminogen-related growth factors (PRGFs). PRGFs are α/β heterodimers that bind to transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors. MSP was originally isolated as a chemotactic factor for peritoneal macrophages. Through binding to its receptor, encoded by the RON gene, it stimulates dissociation of epithelia and works as an inflammatory mediator by repressing the production of nitric oxide (NO). Here, we identify a novel role for MSP in the central nervous system. As a paradigm to analyze this function we chose the hypoglossal system of adult mice. We demonstrate in vivo that either administration of exogenous MSP or transplantation of MSP-producing cells at the proximal stump of the resected nerve is sufficient to prevent motoneuron atrophy upon axotomy. We also show that the MSP gene is expressed in the tongue, the target of the hypoglossal nerve, and that MSP induces biosynthesis of Ron receptor in the motoneuron somata. Finally, we show that MSP suppresses NO production in the injured hypoglossal nuclei. Together, these data suggest that MSP is a novel neurotrophic factor for cranial motoneurons and, by regulating the production of NO, may have a role in brain plasticity and regeneration.

scholarly journals The mechanism of agrin-induced acetylcholine receptor aggregation

1991 ◽  
Vol 331 (1261) ◽  
pp. 273-280 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Tyrosine Phosphorylation ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptor ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Neuromuscular Junctions ◽  
Electric Organ ◽  
Motor Axon ◽  
Β Subunit ◽  
Axon Terminals ◽  
Receptor Aggregation

Agrin, a protein isolated from the synapse-rich electric organ of Torpedo californica , induces the formation of specializations on myotubes in culture which resemble the post-synaptic apparatus at the vertebrate skeletal neuromuscular junction. For example, the specializations contain aggregates of acetylcholine receptors and acetylcholinesterase. This report summarizes the evidence that the formation of the postsynaptic apparatus at developing and regenerating neuromuscular junctions is triggered by the release of agrin from motor axon terminals and describes results of recent experiments which suggest that agrininduced tyrosine phosphorylation of the β subunit of the acetylcholine receptor may play a role in receptor aggregation.

scholarly journals PDK1 is a negative regulator of axon regeneration

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyemin Kim ◽  
Jinyoung Lee ◽  
Yongcheol Cho
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Axon Regeneration ◽  
Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Ganglion Neurons

AbstractAxon regeneration in the central nervous system is inefficient. However, the neurons in the peripheral nervous system display robust regeneration after injury, indicating that axonal regeneration is differentially controlled under various conditions. To identify those molecules regulating axon regeneration, comparative analysis from dorsal root ganglion neurons at embryonic or adult stages is utilized, which reveals that PDK1 is functions as a negative regulator of axon regeneration. PDK1 is downregulated in embryonic neurons after axotomy. In contrast, sciatic nerve axotomy upregulated PDK1 at protein levels from adult mice. The knockdown of PDK1 or the chemical inhibition of PDK1 promotes axon regeneration in vitro and in vivo. Here we present PDK1 as a new player to negatively regulate axon regeneration and as a potential target in the development of therapeutic applications.

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