Author/Editor		Marš, Tomaž
Title		Nastajanje živčnomišičnega stika človeške mišice v razmerah in vitro
Translated title		Formation of the neuromuscular junction in the human muscle in vitro
Type		monografija
Place		Ljubljana
Publisher		Medicinska fakulteta
Publication year		2001
Volume		str. 115
Language		slo
Abstract		Synaptic communication is the essence of the function of the nervous system. Mechanisms underlying formation, differentiation and function of synapses are therefore one of the major research fields in modern neurobiology. Due to its experimental accessibility neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is considered a model synapse and virtually all of our current understanding of synaptogenesis derives from studies on this particular synapse. Especially for synaptogenetic studies are the experimental models enabling good control of the experimental conditions and at the same time the insight into all stages of the synapse formation. In this respect in vitro models are highly advantageous over the in vivo models and are therefore widely used in NMJ investigations. Correct interpretation of results obtained on such models necessitates that these models are well defined. Therefore, the models themselves have been intensively investigated. The aim of this work is, first, to investigate and evaluate the model of in vitro innervated human muscle and, second, to use this model to study selected processes constituting the formation of the NMJ. Four hypotheses were tested in our thesis: 1. The development and differentiation of motor neurons and glial cells during the in vitro formation of the NMJ follows the same spatial and temporal pattern as abserved in vivo. It means that under our in vitro conditions neurons and glia cells reach practically the same differentiation stages as in vivo. 2. Blockade of the effects of agrin by specific anti-agrin antibodies prevents functional innervation of the human myotubes in vitro. 3. Human myotubes can be innervated in vitro also by motor neurons originating from the human spinal cord explants isolated from abortion material. 4. Nerve growth factors: BDNF, GDNF, NT-3, NT-4, CNTF and LIF promote neuronal outgrowth from the mammalian spinal cord explants in the in vitro system and influence the functional innervation.
Descriptors		MUSCLES NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION MOTOR NEURONS NEUROGLIA AGRIN NERVE GROWTH FACTORS CELLS, CULTURED HISTOCYTOCHEMISTRY APOPTOSIS MICROSCOPY, ELECTRON BLOTTING, WESTERN SCHWANN CELLS