Blocking skeletal muscle DHPRs/Ryr1 prevents neuromuscular synapse loss in mutant mice deficient in type III Neuregulin 1 (CRD-Nrg1)

PLoS Genet. 2019 Mar 14;15(3):e1007857. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007857. eCollection 2019 Mar.

Abstract

Schwann cells are integral components of vertebrate neuromuscular synapses; in their absence, pre-synaptic nerve terminals withdraw from post-synaptic muscles, leading to muscle denervation and synapse loss at the developing neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Here, we report a rescue of muscle denervation and neuromuscular synapses loss in type III Neuregulin 1 mutant mice (CRD-Nrg1-/-), which lack Schwann cells. We found that muscle denervation and neuromuscular synapse loss were prevented in CRD-Nrg1-/-mice when presynaptic activity was blocked by ablating a specific gene, such as Snap25 (synaptosomal-associated 25 kDa protein) or Chat (choline acetyltransferase). Further, these effects were mediated by a pathway that requires postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), because ablating Chrna1 (acetylcholine receptor α1 subunit), which encodes muscle-specific AChRs in CRD-Nrg1-/-mice also rescued muscle denervation. Moreover, genetically ablating muscle dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) β1 subunit (Cacnb1) or ryanodine receptor 1 (Ryr1) also rescued muscle denervation and neuromuscular synapse loss in CRD-Nrg1-/-mice. Thus, these genetic manipulations follow a pathway-from presynaptic to postsynaptic, and, ultimately to muscle activity mediated by DHPRs and Ryr1. Importantly, electrophysiological analyses reveal robust synaptic activity in the rescued, Schwann-cell deficient NMJs in CRD-Nrg1-/-Cacnb1-/-or CRD-Nrg1-/-Ryr1-/-mutant mice. Thus, a blockade of synaptic activity, although sufficient, is not necessary to preserve NMJs that lack Schwann cells. Instead, a blockade of muscle activity mediated by DHRPs and Ryr1 is both necessary and sufficient for preserving NMJs that lack Schwann cells. These findings suggest that muscle activity mediated by DHPRs/Ryr1 may destabilize developing NMJs and that Schwann cells play crucial roles in counteracting such a destabilizing activity to preserve neuromuscular synapses during development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / metabolism
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / genetics*
  • Electrophysiology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Motor Neurons / metabolism
  • Muscle Denervation
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Nerve Regeneration / genetics
  • Neuregulin-1 / genetics*
  • Neuromuscular Junction / genetics
  • Presynaptic Terminals / metabolism
  • Receptors, Nicotinic / genetics
  • Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / genetics*
  • Schwann Cells / metabolism
  • Synapses / genetics*
  • Synapses / physiology
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 / genetics

Substances

  • CACNA1S protein, mouse
  • CHRNA1 protein, mouse
  • Cacnb1 protein, mouse
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type
  • Neuregulin-1
  • Nrg1 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Nicotinic
  • Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel
  • Snap25 protein, mouse
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25
  • ryanodine receptor 1, mouse