Synaptic vesicle morphology and recycling are altered in myenteric neurons of mice lacking dystrophin (mdx mice) |
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Authors: | Vannucchi Maria Giuliana Corsani Letizia Faussone-Pellegrini Maria-Simonetta |
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Affiliation: | Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, Section of Histology E. Allara, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. |
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Abstract: | Several dystrophin isoforms are known. The full-length isoform is present in striated and smooth muscles and neurons and its lack causes Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive myopathy accompanied by mild cognitive deficits and gastrointestinal dismotility. An ultrastructural study was undertaken in the colon of mice lacking full-length dystrophin and maintaining shorter isoforms (mdx mice) to ascertain whether myenteric neurons have an altered morphology. Results showed a significant increase in the size of synaptic vesicle and in the number of recycling vesicles. An enlargement of endoplasmic reticulum cisternae in a subpopulation of neurons was also seen. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that the shorter isoforms were expressed in mdx mice myenteric neurons. These findings indicate the presence of a neuropathy at the myenteric plexus which might justify the defective neuronal control of gastrointestinal motility reported for these animals and which might be correlated with full-length dystrophin loss, since the shorter isoforms are present. |
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