title: Glutamatergic neurons induce expression of functional glutamatergic synapses in primary myotubes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The functioning of the nervous system depends upon the specificity of its synaptic contacts. The mechanisms triggering the expression of the appropriate receptors on postsynaptic membrane and the role of the presynaptic partner in the differentiation of postsynaptic structures are little known.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To address these questions we cocultured murine primary muscle cells with several glutamatergic neurons, either cortical, cerebellar or hippocampal. Immunofluorescence and electrophysiology analyses revealed that functional excitatory synaptic contacts were formed between glutamatergic neurons and muscle cells. Moreover, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence experiments showed that typical anchoring proteins of central excitatory synapses coimmunoprecipitate and colocalize with rapsyn, the acetylcholine receptor anchoring protein at the neuromuscular junction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results support an important role of the presynaptic partner in the induction and differentiation of the postsynaptic structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences, Section of Physiology and Psychology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; National Institute of Neuroscience, Brescia and Verona, Italy; Center for Biomedical Computing, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ettorre
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lorenzetto
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laperchia
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baiguera
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Branca
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benarese
authors.forename: PierFranco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spano
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pizzi
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buffelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D051379:Mice; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology*; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D057907:Post-Synaptic Density / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D009124:Muscle Proteins; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; C051609:peripheral membrane protein 43K; D018698:Glutamic Acid