Direct electrical stimulation impacts on neuromuscular junction morphology on both stimulated and unstimulated contralateral soleus

© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society on Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders..

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence of crosstalk between organs. The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a peripheral chemical synapse whose function and morphology are sensitive to acetylcholine (ACh) release and muscle depolarization. In an attempt to improve our understanding of NMJ plasticity and muscle crosstalk, the effects of unilateral direct electrical stimulation of a hindlimb muscle on the NMJ were investigated in rats exposed long-term post-synaptic neuromuscular blockade.

METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to post-synaptic blockade of neuromuscular transmission by systemic administration of α-cobrotoxin and mechanically ventilated for up to 8 days and compared with untreated sham operated controls and animals exposed to unilateral chronic electrical stimulation 12 h/day for 5 or 8 days.

RESULTS: NMJs produced axonal and glial sprouts (growth of processes that extend beyond the confines of the synapse defined by high-density aggregates of acetylcholine receptors [AChRs]) in response to post-synaptic neuromuscular blockade, but less than reported after peripheral denervation or pre-synaptic blockade. Direct electrical soleus muscle stimulation reduced the terminal Schwann cell (tSC) and axonal sprouting in both stimulated and non-stimulated contralateral soleus. Eight days chronic stimulation reduced (P < 0.001) the number of tSC sprouts on stimulated and non-stimulated soleus from 6.7 ± 0.5 and 6.9 ± 0.5 sprouts per NMJ, respectively, compared with 10.3 ± 0.9 tSC per NMJ (P < 0.001) in non-stimulated soleus from rats immobilized for 8 days. A similar reduction of axonal sprouts (P < 0.001) was observed in stimulated and non-stimulated contralateral soleus in response to chronic electrical stimulation. RNAseq-based gene expression analyses confirmed a restoring effect on both stimulated and unstimulated contralateral muscle. The cross-over effect was paralleled by increased cytokine/chemokine levels in stimulated and contralateral unstimulated muscle as well as in plasma.

CONCLUSIONS: Motor axon terminals and terminal Schwann cells at NMJs of rats subjected to post-synaptic neuromuscular blockade exhibited sprouting responses. These axonal and glial responses were likely dampened by a muscle-derived myokines released in an activity-dependent manner with both local and systemic effects.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2023

Erschienen:

2023

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:14

Enthalten in:

Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle - 14(2023), 3 vom: 15. Juni, Seite 1533-1545

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Lee, Young Il [VerfasserIn]
Cacciani, Nicola [VerfasserIn]
Wen, Ya [VerfasserIn]
Zhang, Xiang [VerfasserIn]
Hedström, Yvette [VerfasserIn]
Thompson, Wesley [VerfasserIn]
Larsson, Lars [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Chronic electrical stimulation
Crossover effect
Journal Article
Neuromuscular junction
Post-synaptic neuromuscular blockade
Receptors, Cholinergic
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Soleus muscle
Terminal sprouting

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 05.06.2023

Date Revised 13.06.2023

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1002/jcsm.13235

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM355644010