title: Transmitter release in the neuromuscular synapse of the protein kinase C theta-deficient adult mouse.
abstract: We studied structural and functional features of the neuromuscular junction in adult mice (P30) genetically deficient in the protein kinase C (PKC) theta isoform. Confocal and electron microscopy shows that there are no differences in the general morphology of the endplates between PKC theta-deficient and wild-type (WT) mice. Specifically, there is no difference in the density of the synaptic vesicles. However, the myelin sheath is not as thick in the intramuscular nerve fibers of the PKC theta-deficient mice. We found a significant reduction in the size of evoked endplate potentials and in the frequency of spontaneous, asynchronous, miniature endplate potentials in the PKC theta-deficient neuromuscular preparations in comparison with the WT, but the mean amplitude of the spontaneous potentials is not different. These changes indicate that PKC theta has a presynaptic role in the function of adult neuromuscular synapses.
authors.affiliation: Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHN), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Besalduch
authors.forename: Manel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Santafé
authors.forename: Neus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomás
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomás
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lanuza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074121:Protein Kinase C-theta; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; C489593:Prkcq protein, mouse; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D000074121:Protein Kinase C-theta