Muscle spindle number is normal in guinea pigs with reduced dorsal root ganglia following in utero deprivation of nerve growth factor.
Muscle spindles are induced during embryonic development by contact between sensory axons and undifferentiated myotubes. Neonatal guinea pigs deprived of nerve growth factor in utero can have only 15-20% of the normal number of dorsal root ganglion cells. This study demonstrates that such neonates have normal numbers of muscle spindles. The remaining 15-20% of dorsal root ganglion cells may therefore largely be muscle afferents.
Laing
N G
NG
Department of Pathology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
Osborne
P A
PA
Johnson
E M
EM
D000818:Animals; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009470:Muscle Spindles / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000172:deficiency*
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors