Title | Target-dependent regulation of neurotransmitter specification and embryonic neuronal calcium spike activity. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2010 |
Authors | Xiao Q, Xu L, Spitzer NC |
Journal | J Neurosci |
Volume | 30 |
Issue | 16 |
Pagination | 5792-801 |
Date Published | 2010 Apr 21 |
ISSN | 1529-2401 |
Keywords | Animals, Calcium Signaling, Cells, Cultured, Coculture Techniques, Myoblasts, Neurons, Neurotransmitter Agents, Xenopus laevis |
Abstract | Neurotransmitter specification has been shown to depend on genetic programs and electrical activity; however, target-dependent regulation also plays important roles in neuronal development. We have investigated the impact of muscle targets on transmitter specification in Xenopus spinal neurons using a neuron-muscle coculture system. We find that neuron-muscle contact reduces the number of neurons expressing the noncholinergic transmitters GABA, glycine, and glutamate, while having no effect on the incidence of ChAT expression. We show that muscle activity is necessary for target-dependent reduction of noncholinergic transmitter expression. In addition, we demonstrate that coculture with muscle cells suppresses early spontaneous calcium spike activity in neurons and the presence of muscle cells abolishes activity-dependent transmitter specification. The results indicate that target-dependent regulation can be crucial in establishing neurotransmitter phenotypes and altering early neuronal excitability. |
DOI | 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5659-09.2010 |
Alternate Journal | J. Neurosci. |
PubMed ID | 20410131 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC2871059 |
Grant List | R01 NS015918 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States R01 NS015918-30 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States R01NS15918 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States |
Target-dependent regulation of neurotransmitter specification and embryonic neuronal calcium spike activity.
Category:
Spitzer Laboratory