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Clustering of sodium channels at the neuromuscular junction
Author(s) -
Caldwell J.H.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0029(20000401)49:1<84::aid-jemt9>3.0.co;2-e
Subject(s) - agrin , postsynaptic potential , neuromuscular junction , sodium channel , neuromuscular transmission , biophysics , ankyrin , chemistry , neurotransmission , synapse , neuroscience , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , biology , sodium , biochemistry , receptor , endocrinology , organic chemistry , gene
Voltage‐gated sodium channels (NaChs) are highly concentrated in the postsynaptic region of the neuromuscular junction, especially in the depths of postsynaptic folds and in the perijunctional region. The formation of the high NaCh density occurs during synapse maturation, approximately 2 weeks after initial synaptic contact in the rodent. The concentration of NaChs and their localization in the troughs of the folds increase the safety factor for neuromuscular transmission by reducing the threshold for initiation of the action potential. There is evidence that agrin plays a role in the formation of NaCh aggregation. Molecules such as ankyrin and syntrophin that bind NaChs may be important for maintenance of the high channel density at the endplate. Microsc. Res. Tech. 49:84–89, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.