Differential effects of myostatin deficiency on motor and sensory axons
Maria R. Jones PhD
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
C.S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, 1201 East Rollins Road, Columbia, Missouri, 65211 USA
Search for more papers by this authorEric Villalón PhD
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
C.S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, 1201 East Rollins Road, Columbia, Missouri, 65211 USA
Search for more papers by this authorAdam J. Northcutt BS
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
Search for more papers by this authorNigel A. Calcutt PhD
Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Michael L. Garcia PhD
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
C.S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, 1201 East Rollins Road, Columbia, Missouri, 65211 USA
Correspondence to: M.L. Garcia; e-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorMaria R. Jones PhD
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
C.S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, 1201 East Rollins Road, Columbia, Missouri, 65211 USA
Search for more papers by this authorEric Villalón PhD
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
C.S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, 1201 East Rollins Road, Columbia, Missouri, 65211 USA
Search for more papers by this authorAdam J. Northcutt BS
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
Search for more papers by this authorNigel A. Calcutt PhD
Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Michael L. Garcia PhD
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
C.S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, 1201 East Rollins Road, Columbia, Missouri, 65211 USA
Correspondence to: M.L. Garcia; e-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorThis work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (Grant No. NS060073, and Grant Nos. R25 GM056901 and 5T32GM008396 to M.H.), the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (Grant No. C00014627), and the Missouri Spinal Cord Injury/Disease Research Program (to M.L.G., and NS081082 to N.A.C.), the University of Missouri (salary support to M.L.G.), and the C.S. Bond Life Science Center (fellowship program grant to to M.R.J.).
ABSTRACT
Introduction
Deletion of myostatin in mice (MSTN−/−) alters structural properties of peripheral axons. However, properties like axon diameter and myelin thickness were analyzed in mixed nerves, so it is unclear whether loss of myostatin affects motor, sensory, or both types of axons.
Methods
Using the MSTN−/− mouse model, we analyzed the effects of increasing the number of muscle fibers on axon diameter, myelin thickness, and internode length in motor and sensory axons.
Results
Axon diameter and myelin thickness were increased in motor axons of MSTN−/− mice without affecting internode length or axon number. The number of sensory axons was increased without affecting their structural properties.
Discussion
These results suggest that motor and sensory axons establish structural properties by independent mechanisms. Moreover, in motor axons, instructive cues from the neuromuscular junction may play a role in co-regulating axon diameter and myelin thickness, whereas internode length is established independently. Muscle Nerve 56: E100–E107, 2017
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