Ashley James, Carrillo Robert A
Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2025 Jul 1;2025(7):pdb.top108449. doi: 10.1101/pdb.top108449.
For decades, the larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) has been a go-to model for synaptic development. This simple, accessible system is composed of a repeating pattern of 33 distinct neurons that stereotypically innervate 30 muscles. Fundamental mechanisms that underlie diverse aspects of axon pathfinding, synaptic form, and function have been uncovered at the NMJ, and new pathways continue to be uncovered. These discoveries are fueled by the ease of dissections and an extensive array of techniques. Chief among these techniques are various microscopy approaches, including super-resolution and electron microscopy. Functionally, the NMJ is glutamatergic, similar to the vertebrate central synapses, making it a great model to study normal development and neurological diseases. Here we provide a brief overview of the larval neuromuscular system, highlighting the connectivity patterns, development, and some of the mechanisms underlying these processes.
几十年来，幼虫神经肌肉接头（NMJ）一直是突触发育的首选模型。这个简单、易操作的系统由33个不同神经元的重复模式组成，这些神经元以刻板的方式支配30块肌肉。在神经肌肉接头处已经发现了轴突导向、突触形态和功能等多个方面的基本机制，并且新的途径仍在不断被发现。这些发现得益于解剖的便利性和一系列广泛的技术。其中主要的技术是各种显微镜方法，包括超分辨率显微镜和电子显微镜。在功能上，神经肌肉接头是谷氨酸能的，类似于脊椎动物的中枢突触，这使其成为研究正常发育和神经疾病的理想模型。在这里，我们简要概述幼虫神经肌肉系统，重点介绍其连接模式、发育以及这些过程背后的一些机制。
