title: Local induction of acetylcholine receptor clustering in myotube cultures using microfluidic application of agrin.
abstract: During neuromuscular synaptogenesis, the exchange of spatially localized signals between nerve and muscle initiates the coordinated focal accumulation of the acetylcholine (ACh) release machinery and the ACh receptors (AChRs). One of the key first steps is the release of the proteoglycan agrin focalized at the axon tip, which induces the clustering of AChRs on the postsynaptic membrane at the neuromuscular junction. The lack of a suitable method for focal application of agrin in myotube cultures has limited the majority of in vitro studies to the application of agrin baths. We used a microfluidic device and surface microengineering to focally stimulate muscle cells with agrin at a small portion of their membrane and at a time and position chosen by the user. The device is used to verify the hypothesis that focal application of agrin to the muscle cell membrane induces local aggregation of AChRs in differentiated C2C12 myotubes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-2255, USA.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tourovskaia
authors.forename: T Fettah
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Kosar
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Folch
mesh_terms: D018171:Agrin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002460:Cell Line; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D017022:Flow Injection Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D008832:Microchemistry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018171:Agrin; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic