Neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) is produced by slow muscle fibers in an activity-dependent manner and promotes growth and remodeling of adult motorneuron innervation. However, both muscle fibers and motor neurons express NT-4 receptors, suggesting bidirectional NT-4 signaling at the neuromuscular junction. Mice lacking NT-4 displayed enlarged and fragmented neuromuscular junctions with disassembled posts...

We developed a system for time-lapse observation of identified neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) of the Drosophila embryo. Using this system, we characterize the dynamics of filopodia and axon growth of the motorneuron RP2 as it navigates anteriorly through the CNS and then laterally along the intersegmental nerve (ISN) into the periphery. We find that both axonal extension and turnin...

The embryonic neural crest is a unique group of cells that gives rise to the peripheral nervous system as well as many other cell types. Most of the work describing the behavior and specification of these cells has been done in the avian system, a system amenable to experimental manipulations such as tissue grafting, cell transplantation and lineage tracing. This work has been greatly facilitat...

Introduction: The functional effects of orexin-B on the calcium spikes and excitability of the neuronal soma membrane of garden snail, Helix aspersa were studied. Methods: Conventional intracellular recording, under the current clamp conditions was performed to examine the effects of orexin-B on the configuration and electrophysiological properties of calcium spikes. Results: Application o...

Introduction: Epilepsy is a neural disorder in which abnormal plastic changes during short and long term periods lead to increased excitability of brain tissue. Kindling is an animal model of epileptogenesis which results in changes of synaptic plasticity due to repetitive electrical or chemical sub-convulsive stimulations of the brain. Lateral hypothalamus, as the main niche of orexin neurons ...

Key points Stimulation of postsynaptic muscarinic receptors was shown to excite principal hippocampal neurons by modulating several membrane ion conductances. We show here that activation also causes neuronal excitation inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase activity. Muscarinic inhibition is mediated two separate signalling pathways lead downstream enhanced phosphorylation activating protein kinase C and G....

introduction : there are different applications for cooling in rehabilitation and there is also a controversy in results of applying ice on limb and its effects on motorneurons excitability. methods : this study was done to determine the effect of applying controlled cooling (rubbing cold ointment with 3°c temperature) on the spinal skin (around t place of s root nerve) on the excitability of s...