 |
 Previous Article | Next Article 
Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 9, 1540-1554, Copyright © 1989 by Society for Neuroscience
Studies of nerve-muscle interactions in Xenopus cell culture: fine structure of early functional contacts
J Buchanan, YA Sun and MM Poo
Section of Molecular Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
We have studied the fine structure of nerve-muscle contacts during the
first few hours of synaptogenesis in embryonic Xenopus cell cultures. The
precise timing of contact was achieved by manipulating isolated spherical
myocytes (myoballs) into contact with growth cones or neurites of
co-cultured spinal neurons. The contacts were shown to be functional by
whole-cell voltage-clamp recording of nerve-evoked synaptic currents in the
muscle cell. The ultrastructure of these functional contacts was examined
by thin-section electron microscopy. In total, 20 nerve-muscle pairs were
studied with contact periods ranging from 20 min to 12 hr, during which
time a substantial increase in the amplitude of synaptic currents occurred.
The structure of noncontacting cells and of nerve-muscle contacts formed
between the cells by natural encounters in 1-d-old cultures were also
examined in order to identify the features and the time course of
morphological differentiation of early functional contacts. Prominent
features of the contact area during the first few hours included: close
apposition of the nerve and muscle membranes, greater frequency of coated
pits and vesicles, and thickening of postsynaptic muscle membrane.
Occasionally, clusters of clear vesicles occurred near presynaptic
membrane, but no further sign of active zone differentiation was observed.
In comparison, definitive active zone structure, well-formed extracellular
basal lamina, and widened cleft were seen in natural contacts less than 24
hr old. This study of the identified functional contacts may help us to
understand the structural basis for early nerve-muscle interaction and the
functional significance of various synaptic specializations.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
Y.-P. Liao, S.-Y. Ho, and J.-C. Liou
Non-genomic regulation of transmitter release by retinoic acid at developing motoneurons in Xenopus cell culture
J. Cell Sci.,
June 15, 2004;
117(14):
2917 - 2924.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X.-P. Sun, B. Yazejian, and A. D. Grinnell
Electrophysiological properties of BK channels in Xenopus motor nerve terminals
J. Physiol.,
May 15, 2004;
557(1):
207 - 228.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Li, F. Ono, and P. Brehm
Optical Measurements of Presynaptic Release in Mutant Zebrafish Lacking Postsynaptic Receptors
J. Neurosci.,
November 19, 2003;
23(33):
10467 - 10474.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C.-Y. Wang, F. Yang, X.-P. He, H.-S. Je, J.-Z. Zhou, K. Eckermann, D. Kawamura, L. Feng, L. Shen, and B. Lu
Regulation of Neuromuscular Synapse Development by Glial Cell Line-derived Neurotrophic Factor and Neurturin
J. Biol. Chem.,
March 15, 2002;
277(12):
10614 - 10625.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Harata, T. A. Ryan, S. J Smith, J. Buchanan, and R. W. Tsien
Visualizing recycling synaptic vesicles in hippocampal neurons by FM 1-43 photoconversion
PNAS,
October 23, 2001;
98(22):
12748 - 12753.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Thaler, W. Li, and P. Brehm
Calcium Channel Isoforms Underlying Synaptic Transmission at Embryonic Xenopus Neuromuscular Junctions
J. Neurosci.,
January 15, 2001;
21(2):
412 - 422.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Araque, N. Li, R. T. Doyle, and P. G. Haydon
SNARE Protein-Dependent Glutamate Release from Astrocytes
J. Neurosci.,
January 15, 2000;
20(2):
666 - 673.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. A. DiGregorio, A. Peskoff, and J. L. Vergara
Measurement of Action Potential-Induced Presynaptic Calcium Domains at a Cultured Neuromuscular Junction
J. Neurosci.,
September 15, 1999;
19(18):
7846 - 7859.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. V. Nguyen, L. Aniksztejn, S. Catarsi, and P. Drapeau
Maturation of Neuromuscular Transmission During Early Development in Zebrafish
J Neurophysiol,
June 1, 1999;
81(6):
2852 - 2861.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W.-J. Song and F. Murakami
Development of Functional Topography in the Corticorubral Projection: An In Vivo Assessment Using Synaptic Potentials Recorded from Fetal and Newborn Cats
J. Neurosci.,
November 15, 1998;
18(22):
9354 - 9364.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Reuver and C. Garner
E-cadherin mediated cell adhesion recruits SAP97 into the cortical cytoskeleton
J. Cell Sci.,
January 4, 1998;
111(8):
1071 - 1080.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. M. FITZSIMONDS and M.-M. POO
Retrograde Signaling in the Development and Modification of Synapses
Physiol Rev,
January 1, 1998;
78(1):
143 - 170.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. L. Coulson and M. Klein
Rapid Development of Synaptic Connections and Plasticity Between Sensory Neurons and Motor Neurons of Aplysia in Cell Culture: Implications for Learning and Regulation of Synaptic Strength
J Neurophysiol,
May 1, 1997;
77(5):
2316 - 2327.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Xie, T. Wang, P. Olafsson, K. Mizuno, and B. Lu
Activity-Dependent Expression of NT-3 in Muscle Cells in Culture: Implications in the Development of Neuromuscular Junctions
J. Neurosci.,
May 1, 1997;
17(9):
2947 - 2958.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Yazejian, D. A. DiGregorio, J. L. Vergara, R. E. Poage, S. D. Meriney, and A. D. Grinnell
Direct Measurements of Presynaptic Calcium and Calcium-Activated Potassium Currents Regulating Neurotransmitter Release at Cultured Xenopus Nerve-Muscle Synapses
J. Neurosci.,
May 1, 1997;
17(9):
2990 - 3001.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.-C. Liou and W.-M. Fu
Regulation of Quantal Secretion from Developing Motoneurons by Postsynaptic Activity-Dependent Release of NT-3
J. Neurosci.,
April 1, 1997;
17(7):
2459 - 2468.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Beck, J. Buchanan, and W. Nelson
Golgi membrane skeleton: identification, localization and oligomerization of a 195 kDa ankyrin isoform associated with the Golgi complex
J. Cell Sci.,
January 5, 1997;
110(10):
1239 - 1249.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
