Abstract
The formation of a motor endplate is characterized by a complex series of changes in the properties of the subsynaptic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). Among the last changes to occur are the shortening of the apparent mean open time of their ion channels from about 4 to 1 ms and an increase in the single-channel conductance1–3. This conversion of channel gating at the endplate seems to be induced by the motor neurone. We report here that fast channel gating also develops at nerve-free endplate sites of fibres that had been denervated while gating was still slow. At such sites, junctional folds will develop in the absence of the nerve terminal. Although the conversion of channel gating and the formation of junctional folds are late events in endplate development, the neural signals inducing these changes must therefore act at the earliest stages of junctional development.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sakmann, B. & Brenner, H. R. Nature 276, 401–403 (1978).
Fischbach, G. D. & Schuetze, S. M. J. Physiol., Lond. 303, 125–137 (1980).
Brenner, H. R. & Sakmann, B. J. Physiol., Lond. 337, 159–171 (1983).
Frank, E., Jansen, J. K. S., Lømo, T. & Westgaard, H. J. Physiol., Lond. 247, 725–743 (1975).
Lømo, T. and Slater, C. R. J. Physiol., Lond. 303, 173–189 (1980).
Karnovski, M. J. J. Cell Biol. 23, 217–222 (1964).
Bickley, G. A. & Heaton, J. J. Physiol., Lond. 199, 743–749 (1968).
Lømo, T. & Slater, C. R. J. Physiol., Lond. 303, 191–202 (1980).
Sakmann, B. Fedn Proc. 37, 2654–2659 (1978).
Burden, S. J., Sargent, P. B. & McMahan, U. J. J. Cell Biol. 82, 412–425 (1979).
Lømo, T. Biol. Cell 45, 381 (1982).
Duxson, M. J. J. Neurocytol. 11, 395–408 (1982).
Neher, E. & Sakmann, B. J. Physiol., Lond. 258, 705–729 (1976).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brenner, H., Meier, T. & Widmer, B. Early action of nerve determines motor endplate differentiation in rat muscle. Nature 305, 536–537 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/305536a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/305536a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.