Taetzsch Thomas, Valdez Gregorio
Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, Virginia, USA.
Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
Curr Opin Physiol. 2018 Aug;4:57-64. doi: 10.1016/j.cophys.2018.05.007. Epub 2018 Jun 11.
As the final output of the somatic nervous system, the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is essential for all voluntary movements. The NMJ is also necessary for connected cells to function and survive. Because of this central role, much effort has been devoted to understanding the effects of aging, diseases, and injuries on the NMJ. These efforts have revealed a close relationship between aberrant changes at NMJs and its three cellular components - the presynaptic site on motor axons, the postsynaptic region on muscle fibers and perisynaptic Schwann cells. Here, we review the morphological and molecular changes associated with aging NMJs in rodents and humans. We also provide an overview of factors with potential roles in maintaining and repairing adult and aged NMJs.
作为躯体神经系统的最终输出部位,神经肌肉接头(NMJ)对于所有自主运动至关重要。神经肌肉接头对于相连细胞的功能和存活也是必需的。由于其核心作用,人们投入了大量精力来了解衰老、疾病和损伤对神经肌肉接头的影响。这些努力揭示了神经肌肉接头处的异常变化与其三个细胞成分——运动轴突上的突触前位点、肌纤维上的突触后区域和突触周围施万细胞之间的密切关系。在这里,我们综述了与啮齿动物和人类衰老神经肌肉接头相关的形态学和分子变化。我们还概述了在维持和修复成年及衰老神经肌肉接头中可能发挥作用的因素。