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Activity of Phasic Motor Neurons Partially Transforms the Neuronal and Muscle Phenotype to a Tonic-Like State
Muscle & Nerve (1998)
  • Robin L Cooper, University of Kentucky
  • Wendy M. Warren, University of Kentucky
  • Harty E. Ashby, University of Kentucky
Abstract
We present a model preparation, the crayfish, to investigate chronic stimulation effects in muscle fiber type and neuronal conversion from fast to slow. The results show a presynaptic alteration in transmitter release after 1 week of stimulation at 5 Hz for a 2-h daily regime. With the same stimulation paradigm, the muscle proteins displayed on a polyacrylamide gel only start to show changes after 3 weeks. The original phasic motoneurons within 1 week display an enhanced ability to resist synaptic depression, as do tonic motoneurons. The results show that identified phasic motoneurons and muscle fibers in the crayfish can be transformed to a toniclike state, and that the nerve terminals convert prior to the muscle fibers. Electrophysiological clinical measures indicating a change in transmitter release properties may not necessarily mean that the muscle fibers have fully adapted for long-lasting effects. This preparation allows stimulation conditions to be examined with ease.
Keywords
  • phasic,
  • tonic,
  • muscle,
  • troponin,
  • motor neuron,
  • crayfish
Disciplines
Publication Date
July, 1998
Citation Information
Robin L Cooper, Wendy M. Warren and Harty E. Ashby. "Activity of Phasic Motor Neurons Partially Transforms the Neuronal and Muscle Phenotype to a Tonic-Like State" Muscle & Nerve Vol. 21 Iss. 7 (1998)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/robin_cooper/69/