gamma-AChR/epsilon-AChR switch at agrin-induced postsynaptic-like apparatus in skeletal muscle. Academic Article

abstract

• We transfected the extrajunctional region of denervated soleus muscles in adult rats with neural agrin cDNA to induce myofibers to form postsynaptic-like apparatus containing acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregates. By 1 week approximately 30% of the AChR aggregates contained a mixture of epsilon-AChRs and gamma-AChRs while approximately 70% had only gamma-AChRs. If the transfected muscles were reinnervated in the original junctional region, the postsynaptic-like apparatus, despite the absence of apposed axon terminals, gradually came to have only epsilon-AChRs. We conclude that at the postsynaptic apparatus of ectopic neuromuscular junctions formed by a foreign nerve implanted into the extra-junctional region of denervated muscles, agrin secreted by the axon terminal plays a direct role in the gamma-AChR/epsilon-AChR switch that occurs as the apparatus reaches maturity. Our findings, together with results from other studies, indicate further that agrin and acetylcholine are the only nerve-derived factors required for this switch.

authors

• Mcmahan, Uel
• Rimer, Mendell

published proceedings

• Mol Cell Neurosci

author list (cited authors)

• Rimer, M., Mathiesen, I., Lmo, T., & McMahan, U. J.

citation count

• 47

complete list of authors

• Rimer, M||Mathiesen, I||Lømo, T||McMahan, UJ

publication date

• January 1997

publisher

• Elsevier  Publisher

published in

• Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience  Journal

keywords

• Agrin
• Animals
• Isomerism
• Male
• Muscle Denervation
• Muscle, Skeletal
• Neuromuscular Junction
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Receptors, Cholinergic
• Synapses

PubMed Central ID

• 9268504

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1006/mcne.1997.0622

start page

• 254

end page

• 263

volume

• 9

issue

• 4

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/mcne.1997.0622