Author/Editor     Perdan, Katja; Pirkmajer, Sergej
Title     Vpliv nevrotrofina NT-3 na funkcionalne sposobnosti motonevronov v kokulturi s človeško mišico
Type     monografija
Place     Ljubljana
Publisher     Univerza v Ljubljani, Medicinska fakulteta
Publication year     2004
Volume     str. 47
Language     slo
Abstract     BACKGROUND. Neurotrophins are a subgroup of the growth factors acting in the nervous system. They are small proteins forming a family of several members. Among these members NT-3 is the most abundantly distributed in the developing and mature nervous system. It has been demonstrated that NT-3 improves survival of the isolated motor neurons, enhances their differentiation and stimulates elongation of axons of the spinal neurons. NT-3 also enhances spontaneous and activity dependent synaptic activity of the developing neuromuscularjunction (NMJ), stabilises it and increases acetylcholine secretion at the NMJ. AIM. NT-3 importantly contributes in the formation and maintenance of the nervous system and could be involved in various neuorologic deseases; in the future it may also become a therapeutic agent at their treatment and the mechanisms of its actions are therefore intensively investigated. Tbe aim of our study was to investigate the effects of NT-3 on the ability of motor neurons to form functional NMJs. An in vitro experimental model in which neurons extending from the rat spinal cord explants form functional NMJs on the human myotubes has been employed for this purpose. This model allows observation of the NMJ formation at all stages of this process and quantitative assesment of the innervation efficiency. Such quantitative assesments of the NT-3 effects on the NMJ formation have not been described yet. HYPOTHESIS. NT-3 improves the ability of motor neurons to form functional NMJs. METHODS. The source of myotubes were satellite cells isolated from the pieces of the human mucle rutinely discarded at the orthopedic operations. Spinal cord explants were isolated from pregnant female Wistar rats. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters).
Descriptors     NERVE GROWTH FACTORS
MOTOR NEURONS
COCULTURE
NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION
MUSCLE, SKELETAL
SPINAL CORD
MUSCLE CONTRACTION
RECEPTORS, NICOTINIC
RHODAMINES
BUNGAROTOXINS
RATS, WISTAR