Calcium channels P/Q and L promote synaptic elimination in neuromuscular junctions. Role of PKCε and MUNC18-1 proteins.

Identifier:  TFG:2171

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG2171

Authors:  Hernández Luis, Pablo

Abstract:
At the beginning of the development of the nervous system there is an overproduction of synapses, which causes that each muscle fiber is associated with more than one nerve terminal. The precise wiring of the synaptic connections depends on the activity and requires the elimination of the numerous terminal axons that compete for the same cell, producing the so-called synaptic elimination. This elimination takes place in the first days of the individual's life and ends when each muscle fiber is associated with a single axon. In this work, the role of the calcium channels L, P / Q and N in the process of synaptic elimination of the neuromuscular junctions of rodents have been studied by techniques like immunohistochemistry and Western-blot techniques. The results have confirmed the location of these channels in the neuromuscular junction, specifically in the presynaptic component. In addition, it has been observed that the L and P / Q channels are involved in the process of synaptic elimination in P9 roedents thanks to its inhibition with specific substances, which produce an increases of innervation. These results have been supplemented with the study of the expression of the different channels. In addition, the expression of the PKCε and Munc18-1 synaptic proteins has been studied, which also seem to play an important role in the synaptic elimination process.