A defined long-term in vitro tissue engineered model of neuromuscular junctions

    Authors

    M. Das; J. W. Rumsey; N. Bhargava; M. Stancescu;J. J. Hickman

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Biomaterials

    Keywords

    In vitro test; Muscle; Nerve tissue engineering; Neural cell; Surface; modification; Self assembly; SERUM-FREE MEDIUM; AMYLOID PRECURSOR PROTEIN; SKELETAL-MUSCLE CELLS; SPINAL-CORD NEURONS; SILICON MICROSTRUCTURES; ORGANOSILANE SURFACE; GROWTH-FACTORS; DIFFERENTIATION; PROMOTES; CULTURE; Engineering, Biomedical; Materials Science, Biomaterials

    Abstract

    Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) formation, occurring between motoneurons and skeletal muscle, is a complex multistep process involving a variety of signaling molecules and pathways. In vitro motoneuron-muscle co-cultures are powerful tools to study the role of different growth factors, hormones and cellular structures involved in NMJ formation. In this study, a serum-free culture system utilizing defined temporal growth factor application and a non-biological substrate resulted in the formation of robust NMJs. The system resulted in long-term survival of the co-culture and selective expression of neonatal myosin heavy chain, a marker of myotube maturation. NMJ formation was verified by colocalization of dense clusters of acetylcholine receptors visualized using alpha-bungarotoxin and synaptophysin containing vesicles present in motoneuron axonal terminals. This model will find applications in basic NMJ research and tissue engineering applications such as bio-hybrid device development for limb prosthesis and regenerative medicine as well as for high-throughput drug and toxin screening applications. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Biomaterials

    Volume

    31

    Issue/Number

    18

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    4880

    Last Page

    4888

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000277783100012

    ISSN

    0142-9612

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