Hyperinnervation of neuromuscular junctions caused by GDNF overexpression in muscle

Science. 1998 Mar 13;279(5357):1725-9. doi: 10.1126/science.279.5357.1725.

Abstract

Overexpression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) by muscle greatly increased the number of motor axons innervating neuromuscular junctions in neonatal mice. The extent of hyperinnervation correlated with the amount of GDNF expressed in four transgenic lines. Overexpression of GDNF by glia and overexpression of neurotrophin-3 and neurotrophin-4 in muscle did not cause hyperinnervation. Thus, increased amounts of GDNF in postsynaptic target cells can regulate the number of innervating axons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / physiology*
  • Axons / ultrastructure
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Motor Neurons / physiology*
  • Motor Neurons / ultrastructure
  • Muscle Contraction
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / ultrastructure
  • Myogenin / genetics
  • Nerve Growth Factors / genetics
  • Nerve Growth Factors / physiology
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
  • Neuroglia / metabolism
  • Neuromuscular Junction / ultrastructure*
  • Neuronal Plasticity
  • Neurotrophin 3
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Synapses / physiology
  • Transgenes

Substances

  • Gdnf protein, mouse
  • Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Myog protein, mouse
  • Myogenin
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Neurotrophin 3
  • neurotrophin 4