title: Induction of synaptic development in cultured muscle cells by basic fibroblast growth factor.
abstract: The role of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in signaling the development of the neuromuscular junction was examined. Beads coated with bFGF induced the formation of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters in cultured Xenopus myotomal muscle cells. Tyrphostin, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, abolished AChR clustering induced by bFGF beads, suggesting a role of tyrosine kinase activation in AChR clustering. Using specific antibodies, we demonstrated the presence of both bFGF and its receptor in the myotomal muscle in vivo during the period of neuromuscular connection. However, similar tissue from older animals with mature neuromuscular junctions showed an apparently truncated form of the bFGF receptor. These data suggest that bFGF may play a role in signaling synaptogenesis in skeletal muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599.
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008863:Microspheres; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D011940:Receptor Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000502:physiology; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2