title: Electrophysiological analysis of neuromuscular synaptic function in myasthenia gravis patients and animal models.
abstract: Study of the electrophysiological function of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is instrumental in the understanding of the symptoms and pathophysiology of myasthenia gravis (MG), an autoimmune disorder characterized by fluctuating and fatigable muscle weakness. Most patients have autoantibodies to the acetylcholine receptor at the NMJ. However, in recent years autoantibodies to other crucial postsynaptic membrane proteins have been found in previously 'seronegative' MG patients. Electromyographical recording of compound and single-fibre muscle action potentials provides a crucial in vivo method to determine neuromuscular transmission failure while ex vivo (miniature) endplate potential recordings can reveal the precise synaptic impairment. Here we will review these electrophysiological methods used to assess NMJ function and discuss their application and typical results found in the diagnostic and experimental study of patients and animal models of the several forms of MG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.j.plomp@lumc.nl.
authors.forename: Jaap J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Plomp
authors.affiliation: Motor Neuron Disease Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morsch
authors.affiliation: Physiology and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan J G M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Verschuuren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Acetylcholine receptor; Compound muscle action potential; Electromyography; Electrophysiology; Endplate; Mouse models; Muscle-specific kinase; Myasthenia gravis; Neuromuscular junction; Synapse