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Environmental Estrogens Decrease Agrin‐Induced Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering
Author(s) -
Renteria Sarah M,
Grow Wade A
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.524.1
Subject(s) - agrin , myogenesis , c2c12 , medicine , endocrinology , skeletal muscle , myocyte , acetylcholine receptor , sarcopenia , estrogen , biology , estrogen receptor , estrogen receptor alpha , receptor , cancer , breast cancer
In addition to reproductive tissues, estrogen hormones target skeletal muscle. Studies have linked the decline of estrogen during menopause to sarcopenia, a loss in muscle mass and strength with aging. Steroid hormones including estrogens alter gene transcription and affect cell function. Human exposure to environmental estrogens that can mimic endogenous estrogens is increasing. Our lab uses the C2C12 cell culture model to investigate skeletal muscle development, specifically the events of myotube formation and acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clustering. C2C12 myoblasts proliferate and fuse into myotubes in cell culture. Clusters of AChRs form spontaneously on myotubes with motor neuron derived agrin increasing the frequency of AChR clustering. Our objective was to assess if environmental estrogens affect agrin‐induced AChR clustering. We tested four environmental estrogens that represent a range of distributions and toxicities: DDT, methoxychlor, estrone, and 17â‐estradiol. Our results demonstrate that individually and in combination environmental estrogens can decrease agrin‐induced AChR clustering. We conclude that environmental estrogens may interfere with skeletal muscle development. Grant Funding Source : Sarah M. Renteria was supported by the Midwestern University Biomedical Sciences Program. Wade A. Grow was supported by Midwestern University intramural funds.