A role for cAMP in the development of functional neuromuscular transmission

J. M. Dubinsky, G. D. Fischbach

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have found that the incidence of functionally connected neuron‐myotube pairs in chick ciliary‐myotube cultures increases from 58% to more than 90% when the cells are treated for several hours with 8‐bromo‐cyclic adenosine monophosphate (8‐br‐cAMP) or with agents known to increase intracellular cAMP. The increase in connectivity was not accompanied by a change in neuron survival, or in the length of neurite‐myotube contact. Moreover, there was no change in the shape of the presynaptic action potential, in mean end plate potential (epp) amplitude or in the sensitivity of postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). One interpretation of these results is that a cAMP‐dependent phosphorylation acts as a trigger to activate a previously “silent” synapse.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)414-426
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Neurobiology
Volume21
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1990

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