Neuromuscular development in the absence of programmed cell death: phenotypic alteration of motoneurons and muscle.

ABSTRACT: The widespread, massive loss of developing neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system of birds and mammals is generally considered to be an evolutionary adaptation. However, until recently, models for testing both the immediate and long-term consequences of preventing this normal cell loss have not been available. We have taken advantage of several methods for preventing neuronal death in vivo to ask whether rescued neurons [e.g., motoneurons (MNs)] differentiate normally and become functionally incorporated into the nervous system. Although many aspects of MN differentiation occurred normally after the prevention of cell death (including the expression of several motoneuron-specific markers, axon projections into the ventral root and peripheral nerves, ultrastructure, dendritic

SUBMITTER: Buss RR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6674711 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature