title: Formation of neuromuscular junction-like structure between primary sensory terminals and skeletal muscle cells in vitro.
abstract: Sensory nerve cross-anastomosis provides a modified trophic environment by modulating neurotrophic factor synthesis in muscle. Target tissues contribute to the phenotype and function of sensory neurons. Whether formation of neuromuscular junction (NMJ)-like structure between sensory neurons and skeletal muscle (SKM) cells in vitro remains unknown. In this study, a neuromuscular coculture model of dissociated dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and SKM cells was established. The relationship between DRG neurons and SKM cells was observed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that: (1) DRG neuronal axons frequently terminated on or adhered to the SKM cells; (2) the crossing axons adhered to each other, hence displacement of the terminal axons on the contracting SKM cells would also oscillate the proximally crossing axonal network; (3) the configurations of the axon terminal observed by SEM were variable in different culture conditions; (4) the enlarged nerve endings terminated on the surface of SKM cells which formed NMJ-like structure. These results offered new clues for a better understanding of the relationship between sensory neurons and SKM cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Shandong University School of Medicine, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Huaxiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Huaijing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhenzhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure