Open AccessRelationship of insulin-like growth factor II gene expression in muscle to synaptogenesis.
Author(s) -
Douglas N. Ishii
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.86.8.2898
Subject(s) - synaptogenesis , reinnervation , biology , endocrinology , gene expression , medicine , insulin like growth factor , neuromuscular junction , growth factor , insulin , messenger rna , regulation of gene expression , nerve growth factor , hindlimb , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , neuroscience , receptor , genetics
A striking correlation between insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) gene expression and turnover of neuromuscular synapses was observed. The IGF-II gene was expressed at a high level in fetal rat hind limb muscles prior to the developmental formation of synapses and increased while polyneuronal innervation accumulated. Thereafter, there was a selective down-regulation of IGF-II mRNAs that was exactly coincident with the postnatal time course for elimination of superfluous synapses. The hypothesis that innervation might provide a signal suppressing IGF-II gene expression was tested. Upon transection of the sciatic nerve, there was up-regulation of IGF-II mRNA content in muscle. This up-regulation was selective and correlated with the capacity of denervated muscle to accept reinnervation. These results suggest that the IGF-II gene may play a role in the development and turnover of synapses.