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Sodium Nitrate Decreases Agrin‐induced AChR Clustering
Author(s) -
White Cullen,
Grow Wade
Publication year - 2015
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.29.1_supplement.874.1
Subject(s) - agrin , myogenin , myogenesis , acetylcholine receptor , c2c12 , myocyte , cluster analysis , chemistry , sodium nitrate , endocrinology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , receptor , computer science , organic chemistry , machine learning
Skeletal muscle development, and specifically acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clustering, is driven by myogenic regulatory factors including myogenin. Previous studies with C2C12 cell culture have demonstrated that AChR clustering is disrupted by many environmental toxins. This project investigated the effect of sodium nitrate (NaNO 3 ) on AChR clustering and the expression of myogenin. C2C12 cell cultures were maintained, myoblasts were differentiated into myotubes, and then cultures were exposed to motor neuron derived agrin to enhance AChR clustering. Untreated cultures were compared with cultures exposed to NaNO 3 at concentrations ranging from 0.01 μg/mL ‐ 100 μg/mL. Fluorescence microscopy was utilized to assess AChR clustering, and 1.0 μg/mL NaNO 3 was determined to be sufficient to decrease the frequency of agrin‐induced AChR clustering. Cell extractions and western blots were utilized to assess myogenin expression, with concentrations of NaNO 3 as high as 100 μg/mL having no effect on myogenin expression. Similar experiments were performed to determine if the decrease in AChR clustering was due to a decrease in AChR expression, with concentrations of NaNO 3 as high as 100 μg/mL having no effect on AChR expression. These results demonstrate that NaNO 3 decreases the frequency of agrin‐induced AChR clustering by a mechanism that is independent of myogenin or AChR expression. Wade A. Grow was supported by Midwestern University intramural funds.