title: The glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) does not acutely change acetylcholine release in developing and adult neuromuscular junction.
abstract: We use immunocytochemistry to show that the trophic molecule glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its receptor GDNF family receptor alpha-1 (GFRalpha-1) are present in both neonatal (P6) and adult (P45) rodent neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) colocalized with several synaptic markers. However, incubation with exogenous GDNF (10-200ng/ml, 1-3h), does not affect spontaneous ACh release. Moreover, GDNF does not change the size of the evoked ACh release from the weak and the strong axonal inputs on dually innervated postnatal endplates nor in the most developed singly-innervated synapses at P6 and P45. Our findings indicate that GDNF (unlike neurotrophins) does not acutely modulate transmitter release during the developmental process of synapse elimination nor as the NMJ matures.
authors.affiliation: Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHN), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Carrer Sant Llorenç, 21, 43201-Reus, Spain. ngs@fmcs.urv.es
authors.forename: Neus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Manel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Santafé
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomàs
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lanuza
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Besalduch
authors.forename: Merche
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Priego
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomàs
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000378:metabolism; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
chemical_list: C494988:Gfra1 protein, mouse; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D000109:Acetylcholine