Program of Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
Development. 2010 Apr;137(7):1017-33. doi: 10.1242/dev.038711.
Synapses, as fundamental units of the neural circuitry, enable complex behaviors. The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a synapse type that forms between motoneurons and skeletal muscle fibers and that exhibits a high degree of subcellular specialization. Aided by genetic techniques and suitable animal models, studies in the past decade have brought significant progress in identifying NMJ components and assembly mechanisms. This review highlights recent advances in the study of NMJ development, focusing on signaling pathways that are activated by diffusible cues, which shed light on synaptogenesis in the brain and contribute to a better understanding of muscular dystrophy.
突触是神经回路的基本单位，使复杂的行为成为可能。神经肌肉接头（NMJ）是一种在运动神经元和骨骼肌纤维之间形成的突触类型，表现出高度的细胞内特化。在遗传技术和合适的动物模型的帮助下，过去十年的研究在识别 NMJ 成分和组装机制方面取得了重大进展。本综述重点介绍了 NMJ 发育研究的最新进展，聚焦于由扩散信号激活的信号通路，这些信号通路阐明了大脑中的突触发生，并有助于更好地理解肌肉萎缩症。
