QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (41) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chang, Q. Articles by Balice-Gordon, R. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chang, Q. Articles by Balice-Gordon, R. J.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

The Journal of Neuroscience, January 15, 2000, 20(2):674-684

Nerve Injury Induces Gap Junctional Coupling among Axotomized Adult Motor Neurons

Qiang Chang¹, Alberto Pereda², Martin J. Pinter³, and Rita J. Balice-Gordon¹

¹ Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6074, ² Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Pennsylvania/Hahnemann School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, and ³ Department of Physiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Neonatal spinal motor neurons are electrically and dye-coupled by gap junctions, but coupling is transient and disappears rapidly after birth. Here we report that adult motor neurons become recoupled by gap junctions after peripheral nerve injury. One and 4-6 weeks after nerve cut, clusters of dye-coupled motor neurons were observed among axotomized, but not control, lumbar spinal motor neurons in adult cats. Electrical coupling was not apparent, probably because of the electrotonic distance between dendrodendritic gap junctions and the somatic recording location. Analyses of gap junction protein expression in cat and rat showed that the repertoire of connexins expressed by normal adult motor neurons, Cx36, Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45, was unchanged after axotomy. Our results suggest that the reestablishment of gap junctional coupling among axotomized adult motor neurons may occur by modulation of existing gap junction proteins that are constitutively expressed by motor neurons. After injury, interneuronal gap junctional coupling may mediate signaling that maintains the viability of axotomized motor neurons until synaptic connections are reestablished within their targets.

Key words: gap junction; motor neuron; skeletal muscle; nerve; connexin; axotomy; injury

---

Copyright © 2000 Society for Neuroscience  0270-6474/00/202674-11$05.00/0

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Colomer, L. A. Olivos Ore, N. Coutry, M.-N. Mathieu, S. Arthaud, P. Fontanaud, I. Iankova, F. Macari, E. Thouennon, L. Yon, et al. Functional Remodeling of Gap Junction-Mediated Electrical Communication between Adrenal Chromaffin Cells in Stressed Rats J. Neurosci., June 25, 2008; 28(26): 6616 - 6626. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. H.-C. Lin, N. Lou, N. Kang, T. Takano, F. Hu, X. Han, Q. Xu, D. Lovatt, A. Torres, K. Willecke, et al. A Central Role of Connexin 43 in Hypoxic Preconditioning J. Neurosci., January 16, 2008; 28(3): 681 - 695. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. de Rivero Vaccari, R. A. Corriveau, and A. B. Belousov Gap Junctions Are Required for NMDA Receptor Dependent Cell Death in Developing Neurons J Neurophysiol, November 1, 2007; 98(5): 2878 - 2886. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P.-Y. Wang, K. Koishi, A. B. McGeachie, M. Kimber, D. T. MacLaughlin, P. K. Donahoe, and I. S. McLennan Mullerian Inhibiting Substance acts as a motor neuron survival factor in vitro PNAS, November 8, 2005; 102(45): 16421 - 16425. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. M. Szabo, D. S. Faber, and M. J. Zoran Transient Electrical Coupling Delays the Onset of Chemical Neurotransmission at Developing Synapses J. Neurosci., January 7, 2004; 24(1): 112 - 120. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. O. Martin, M.-N. Mathieu, and N. C. Guerineau Evidence for Long-Lasting Cholinergic Control of Gap Junctional Communication between Adrenal Chromaffin Cells J. Neurosci., May 1, 2003; 23(9): 3669 - 3678. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Pastor, G. Z. Mentis, R. R. De la Cruz, E. Diaz, and R. Navarrete Increased Electrotonic Coupling in Spinal Motoneurons After Transient Botulinum Neurotoxin Paralysis in the Neonatal Rat J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2003; 89(2): 793 - 805. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. P. Velazquez, M. V. Frantseva, and C. C. Naus Gap Junctions and Neuronal Injury: Protectants or Executioners? Neuroscientist, February 1, 2003; 9(1): 5 - 9. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. S. Jahromi, K. Wentlandt, S. Piran, and P. L. Carlen Anticonvulsant Actions of Gap Junctional Blockers in an In Vitro Seizure Model J Neurophysiol, October 1, 2002; 88(4): 1893 - 1902. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. V. Frantseva, L. Kokarovtseva, C. G. Naus, P. L. Carlen, D. MacFabe, and J. L. Perez Velazquez Specific Gap Junctions Enhance the Neuronal Vulnerability to Brain Traumatic Injury J. Neurosci., February 1, 2002; 22(3): 644 - 653. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help