Thesis (M.Sc.) - Carleton University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-87). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.Phil.) - University of Queensland, 2006. / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toledo, 2008. / Typescript. "Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemistry." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 32-37, 74-75, 112-114, 155-157, 187-188, 193).

Οι νικοτινικοί υποδοχείς της ακετυλοχολίνης (nAChRs), μέλη της υπερ-οικογένειας των πενταμερών χημειοελεγχόμενων ιοντικών καναλιών (LGICs), είναι διαμεμβρανικές γλυκοπρωτεΐνες μεγέθους ~290 kDa. Ανάλογα με την τοπολογία και τα φαρμακολογικά τους χαρακτηριστικά, διακρίνονται σε μυϊκού και νευρικού τύπου υποδοχείς. Οι μυϊκού τύπου nAChRs βρίσκονται στα ηλεκτρικά όργανα των ιχθύων Torpedo sp. και στις νευρομυϊκές συνάψεις των σπονδυλωτών, όπου μεταβιβάζουν τις νευρικές ώσεις στους μύες. Αποτελούνται από πέντε ομόλογες υπομονάδες που σχηματίζουν ένα κανάλι, με στοιχειομετρία (α1)2βγδ στα έμβρυα ή (α1)2βεδ στους ενήλικες. Κάθε υπομονάδα αποτελείται από: (α) ένα αμινο-τελικό εξωκυτταρικό τμήμα (ECD) μήκους ~210–220 αμινοξέων (β) τέσσερις μικρές (15–20 αμινοξέα μήκος η καθεμιά) υδρόφοβες διαμεμβρανικές περιοχές (M1–M4) και δύο μικρές υδρόφοβες θηλιές, μεταξύ των M1–M2 και M2–M3 (γ) μια υδρόφιλη κυταρροπλασματική θηλιά που ποικίλει σε μέγεθος (100–150 κατάλοιπα) και αμινοξική σύσταση μεταξύ των υπομονάδων, ανάμεσα στην Μ3 και Μ4 περιοχή, και (δ) ένα μικρό (4–28 αμινοξέα) υδρόφιλο καρβοξυ-τελικό άκρο εξωκυτταρικά. Οι μυϊκού τύπου nAChRs εκτός από την φυσιολογική τους δράση εμπλέκονται και στην αυτοάνοση νόσο μυασθένεια (myasthenia gravis-MG). Τα αυτοαντισώματα των μυασθενικών προσδένονται στην εξωκυτταρική περιοχή του AChR και η πλειοψηφία τους φαίνεται να στοχεύει την α1 υπομονάδα και συγκεκριμένα την κύρια ανοσογόνο περιοχή της-MIR. Επιπλέον, στην εξωκυτταρική περιοχή της α1 υπομονάδας εντοπίζεται και η περιοχή που συμμετέχει στον σχηματισμό της θέση πρόσδεσης της ακετυλοχολίνης και άλλων χολινεργικών προσδετών. Το α1 ECD του ανθρώπινου nAChRs έχει ήδη εκφραστεί, απομονωθεί και χαρακτηριστεί από υπερκείμενο καλλιέργειας του ζυμομύκητα Pichia pastoris ως μονομερές, υδατοδιαλυτό και λειτουργικό πρωτεϊνικό μόριο. Η ικανότητά του να προσδένει αντι-AChR αυτοαντισώματα βρέθηκε μέτρια, και για τον λόγο αυτό στην παρούσα εργασία εκφράστηκε σε ένα ανώτερο εξελικτικά σύστημα από αυτό του Pichia pastoris, με σκοπό την έκφραση μορίων με καλύτερη αναδίπλωση, που να προσομοιάζουν περισσότερο με την φυσική τους διαμόρφωση, καθώς επίσης και την παραγωγή ικανοποιητικής ποσότητας πρωτεΐνης, ώστε να είναι εφικτή η δομική της μελέτη. Ως ετερόλογο σύστημα έκφρασης, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν κύτταρα εντόμων του είδους Trichoplusia ni (High Five), τα οποία ήταν σταθερά μετασχηματισμένα ως προς το ανασυνδιασμένο α1 ECD πολυπεπτίδιο. Αναλυτικότερα, το ECD της α1 υπομονάδας εκφράστηκε στα δύο συστήματα και στην συνέχεια καθαρίστηκε και απομονώθηκε με χρωματογραφία συγγένειας και μοριακής διήθησης. Το High Five α1 ECD εκφράστηκε ως υδατοδιαλυτό μόριο σε ικανοποιητική ποσότητα ενώ η χρωματογραφία μοριακής διήθησης και οι μελέτες δυναμικής σκέδασης του φωτός έδειξαν επιπλέον πως εκφράζεται ως μονομερές. Ορισμένοι χολινεργικοί προσδέτες προσδένονται στο High Five α1 ECD, επιβεβαιώνοντας πως η διαμόρφωσή του προσομοιάζει με του ανθρώπινου nAChR. Με πειράματα ELISA και ραδιοανοσολογικού προσδιορισμού, προέκυψε πως το High Five α1 ECD δεσμεύει μεγαλύτερο ποσοστό αντι-nAChR μονοκλωνικών αντισωμάτων και αυτοαντισωμάτων από τον ορό μυασθενικών, συγκριτικά με το Pichia pastoris α1 ECD. Σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα της εργασίας αυτής, το ανασυνδυασμένο α1 ECD του ανθρώπινου nAChR, εκφρασμένο σε κύτταρα εντόμων High Five, προσομοιάζει περισσότερο με την φυσική διαμόρφωση του nAChR. Επιπλέον, το ετερόλογο σύστημα έκφρασης των High Five κυττάρων είναι αποδοτικά καλύτερο σε σύγκριση με αυτό του ζυμομύκητα Pichia pastoris. Αυτό, καθιστά το High Five α1 ECD καταλληλότερο για δομικές μελέτες υψηλής ανάλυσης, που θα βοηθήσουν στην επίλυση της τρισδιάστατης δομής του υποδοχέα, αλλά και για την ανάπτυξη μιας ειδικής αντιγονοειδικής θεραπείας για τη μυασθένεια. / Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), members of the superfamily of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs), are transmembrane glycoproteins (Mr ~290 kDa). According to their topology and their pharmacological properties, nAChRs are divided into muscle-type and neuronal-type nAChRs. The muscle-type AChRs are located in fish electric organs as well as in the neuromuscular junction, where they transmit electrical signals from the nervous system to the vertebrate skeletal muscles. They consist of five homologous subunits forming a channel with stoichiometry (α1)2βγδ in embryos or (α1)2βεδ in adults. A nAChR subunit consists of: (a) a N-terminal extracellular domain (ECD) which is ~210–220 amino acids long; (b) four short (15–20 amino acids long) hydrophobic transmembrane segments (M1–M4) and two small hydrophilic loops, linking segments M1–M2 and M2–M3; (c) a hydrophilic cytoplasmic loop varying in size (100–150 residues) and sequence among different type of subunits, which located between M3 and M4 segment, and (d) a C-terminal short (4–28 amino acids) hydrophilic extracellular segment end. Muscle type nAChRs are also involved in the autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis (MG). Αutoantibodies in MG bind to the extracellular domain of the AChR and their majority target the α1 subunit and more specific the major immunogenic region (MIR). Moreover, the ECD of the α1 subunit bears the binding sites for acetylcholine and other cholinergic ligands. The human nAChR α1 subunit ECD has been expressed, isolated and characterized in the yeast Pichia pastoris as a monomer, water-soluble and functional molecule, with a medium ability to bind antibodies against AChR. In this project, the human nAChR α1 subunit ECD was expressed in an evolutionary higher protein expression system compared to Pichia pastoris system, in order to express molecules with better conformation, close to that of the native protein and to produce considerable amounts of protein for structural studies. In more details, we have used insect cells from the species Trichoplusia ni (High Five), which were stably transformed with the α1 ECD polypeptide. The α1 ECD of the human muscle nAChR, was expressed in both systems and was isolated and purified by affinity chromatography and fast protein liquid chromatography analysis (FPLC). The recombinant High Five α1 ECD was expressed as a water-soluble molecule in sufficient quantities. FPLC and dynamic light scattering analysis determined it to be monomer. Several cholinergic ligands were found to bind to High Five α1 human ECD confirming the native-like conformation of the protein. High Five α1 ECD was subsequently found to bind better conformation-dependent anti-nAChR mAbs than the Pichia pastoris α1 human ECD, as determined by ELISA and radioimmunoassay analysis. The binding of High Five α1 human ECD to anti-nAChR autoantibodies from MG patients, was also found to be better than the Pastoris pastoris α1 human ECD. These results indicate that the recombinant α1 human ECD, expressed in High Five cells, has a more native-like conformation than Pichia pastoris α1 ECD, being suitable for high resolution structural studies, in order to reveal the structure of the human nAChR and for the development of an antigen specific therapy for MG.

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are key players in both cognitive and autonomic processes. In the cognitive domains of the brain, destruction of cholinergic inputs or disruption of nAChR function result in cognitive deficits as observed in Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, brain trauma and aging. By contrast, moderate activation of nAChRs supports neuroprotection and improves cognitive functions. In addition, neuronal nAChRs are also expressed in important autonomic centers such as the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) that support autonomic visceral reflexes and homeostasis. In this study, the underlying mechanisms of nAChR activation and its pharmacology were investigated in the hippocampus and the NTS, critical brain regions supporting cognitive and autonomic functions, respectively. Specific Aim 1 of this study was to determine the capacity of physiological levels of choline to activate α7 nAChRs in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons and interneurons. A weak persistent activation of α7 nAChRs can be neuroprotective. These levels of activation can be achieved by selective or non-selective α7 nAChR agonists or inhibitors of ACh esterase (AChEI). However, nicotinic agonists desensitize α7 nAChRs while AChEI produces side effects limiting their overall clinical and pre-clinical effectiveness. These limitations can be avoided by using a novel class of drugs; type-II positive allosteric modulators of α7 nAChRs (α7-PAMs) such as PNU-120596 (i.e., PNU). At physiological levels, choline alone is ineffective as an α7 agonist because of its low concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (~10 µM) and low potency for α7 activation (EC50~1.5 mM). However, the results pertaining to Specific Aim 1 demonstrate that in the presence of PNU (1-5 µM) , 10 µM choline produces persistent α7 activation expressed on CA1 pyramidal and interneurons which may be fine-tuned to achieve optimal neuroprotection and cognitive benefits. Specific Aim 2 was to test the novel concept that PNU mediated changes in α7 receptor kinetics can alter the biophysical properties of α7 channel-drug interactions and thereby increase the probability and the apparent affinity of open channel block. The results of this study suggest that the compounds (e.g., Bicuculline) that do not potently interact with α7 ion channels in the absence of PNU begin to interact potently in its presence. These emergent properties of α7 channel-drug interactions in the presence of PNU need to be recognized in drug development as they may lead to unanticipated side effects and serious misinterpretation of data. Specific Aim 3 investigated the pharmacology and mechanisms of action of pre-synaptic non-α7 and α7 nAChRs in the caudal NTS neurons. Although, activation of nAChRs is known to enhance pre-synaptic release of glutamate in subsets of caudal NTS neurons, its mechanism of action has been elusive. However, the results from this study demonstrated that nicotine-mediated enhancement of glutamate release requires Ca2+ influx via nAChRs but does not require any contribution from voltage-gated Ca2+ ion channels (VGCCs) and presynaptic Ca2+ stores. Moreover, both functional α7 and non-α7 nAChRs were found to contribute to the presynaptic effects of nicotine in subsets of NTS neurons. However, co-expression of α7 and non-α7 nAChRs on the same glutamatergic presynaptic terminals was not detected. Collectively, these studies may help in developing new therapeutic strategies to selectively target nAChR-associated pathways that support cognitive and autonomic functions in health and disease.

The medial temporal lobe (MTL) is crucial for episodic and spatial memory, and shows rhythmicity in the local field potential and neuronal spiking. Gamma oscillations (>40Hz) are mediatepd by local circuitry and interact with slower theta oscillations (6-10 Hz). Both oscillation frequencies are modulated by cholinergic input from the medial septum. Entorhinal grid cells fire when an animal visits particular locations in the environment arranged on the corners of tightly packed, equilateral triangles. Grid cells show phase precession, in which neurons fire at progressively earlier phases relative to theta oscillation as animals move through firing fields. This work focuses on the temporal organization of spiking and network rhythms, and their modulation by septal inputs, which are thought to be involved in MTL function. First, I recorded grid cells as rats explored open spaces and examined precession, previously only characterized on linear tracks, and compared it to predictions from models. I identified precession, including in conjunctive head-direction-by-grid cells and on passes that clipped the edge of the firing field. Secondly, I studied problems of measuring single neuron theta rhythmicity and developed an improved approach. Using the novel approach, I identified diverse modulation of rat medial entorhinal neurons’ rhythmic frequencies by running speed, independent from the modulation of firing rate by speed. Under pharmacological inactivation of the septum, rhythmic tuning was disrupted while rate tuning was enhanced. The approach also showed that available data is insufficient to prove that bat grid cells are arrhythmic due to low firing rates. In the final project, I optogenetically silenced cholinergic septal cells while recording from hippocampal area CA1. I identified changes in theta rhythmic currents and in theta-gamma coupling. This silencing disrupted performance when applied during the encoding phase of a delayed match to position task. These data support hypothetical roles of these rhythms in encoding and retrieval and suggest possible mechanisms for their modulation. Together, evidence from these projects suggests a role for theta in the function of spatial and episodic memory. These oscillations have important implications for communication and computation, and they can provide a substrate for efficient brain function.

abstract: Birds have plasma glucose levels that are 1.5-2 times greater than mammals of similar body mass in addition to higher free fatty acid concentrations, both of which would typically impair endothelium-dependent vasodilation if observed in mammals. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation can be stimulated in mammals through the use of acetylcholine (ACh), which primarily acts through nitric oxide (NO) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-mediated pathways, with varying reliance on endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factors (EDHFs). Very few studies have been conducted on small resistance systemic arteries from birds. The hypothesis was that because birds have naturally high glucose and free fatty acid concentrations, ACh-induced vasodilation of isolated arteries from mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) would be independent of endothelial-derived factors and resistant to high glucose-mediated vascular dysfunction. Small resistance mesenteric and cranial tibial (c. tibial) arteries were pre-constricted to 50% of resting inner diameter with phenyleprine then exposed to increasing doses of ACh (10-9 to 10-5 μM) or the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 10-12 to 10-3 μM). For both vessel beds, ACh-induced vasodilation occurred mainly through the activation of potassium channels, whereas vasodilation of mesenteric arteries additionally occurred through COX. Although arteries from both vessel beds fully dilated with exposure to sodium nitroprusside, ACh-mediated vasodilation was independent of NO. To examine the effect of high glucose on endothelium-dependent vasodilation, ACh dose response curves were conducted following exposure of isolated c. tibial arteries to either a control solution (20mM glucose) or high glucose (30mM). ACh-induced vasodilation was significantly impaired (p = 0.013) when exposed to high glucose, but normalized in subsequent vessels with pre-exposure to the superoxide dismutase mimetic tiron (10 mM). Superoxide concentrations were likewise significantly increased (p = 0.0072) following exposure to high glucose. These findings indicate that dove arteries do not appear to have endogenous mechanisms to counteract the deleterious effects of oxidative stress. Additional studies are required to assess whether endogenous mechanisms exist to protect avian vascular reactivity from systemic hyperglycemia. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Nutrition 2012

Submitted by Inae Braga (inae_braga@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-05-04T20:01:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE INAÊ 2018 versão final Pós Defesa1.pdf: 6269053 bytes, checksum: 6263bd7a8bfc567a741ee29acc62e4a8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Santulo Custódio de Medeiros null (asantulo@rc.unesp.br) on 2018-05-07T12:34:39Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 braga_i_dr_rcla.pdf: 4231965 bytes, checksum: 91f9a4741e13f51a9d7686b64f56a083 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-07T12:34:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 braga_i_dr_rcla.pdf: 4231965 bytes, checksum: 91f9a4741e13f51a9d7686b64f56a083 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-06 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A soja (Glycine max (L.) Merrill), uma das principais culturas oleaginosas, é muito sensível a fatores ambientais, sendo a deficiência hídrica um fator particularmente limitante para seu desenvolvimento e produção. Algumas substâncias podem ser utilizadas para minimizar os efeitos danosos do estresse hídrico. Bioreguladores, tais como ácido γ-aminobutírico (GABA) e Acetilcolina (Ach) atuam na defesa de plantas em respostas ao estresse, desempenhando um papel osmoprotetor e na regulação do movimento estomático, respectivamente. O objetivo deste estudo foi de analisar diferentes modos de aplicação exógena desses dois bioreguladores (isoladamente ou em combinação) e estudar o seu efeito na regulação dos processos de resposta de soja ao deficit hídrico. Para tanto, foi realizada a aplicação combinada dos dois bioreguladores na dose de 2,0 mM em plantas de soja cv. Intacta sob diferentes regimes hídricos. Os fatores estudados foram: 1) da aplicação dos bioreguladores (i) nas sementes- S (ii) via foliar F; (iii) nas semente e via foliar - SF; (iv) controle sem aplicação - C; e 2) regimes hídricos: (i) 100% da capacidade de campo (CC) e (ii) suspensão da irrigação (SI). Foram realizadas análises de trocas gasosas foliares e biomassa para caracterização fisiológica das plantas, das atividades das enzimas anti-oxidantes (CAT e APX) e das alterações nas respostas transcricionais dos genes induzidos por deficiência hídrica, P5CS, LEA e ABA2. Para os tratamentos de déficit hídrico, foi observada uma queda de 93% da capacidade fotossíntécia (PN) no sexto dia após a suspensão da irrigação, assim como diminuição da biomassa, além de apresentar maior expressão dos genes induzidos por deficiência hídrica. O tratamento da combinação das substâncias GABA e Ach aplicados na semente e na folha sob déficit hídrico, destacou-se por apresentar menor queda da fotossíntese, assim como, aumento para condutância estomática e biomassa. Para as análises transcricionais a aplicação dacombinação de GABA e Ach em semente e folha apresentaram menor expressão dos genes P5CS, LEA e ABA2 e maior atividade das enzimas SOD, CAT e APX, em relação ao tratamento controle Em nosso estudo foi possível observar que a aplicação combinada das substâncias GABA e Ach na semente e folha a 2,0 mM promoveu uma melhora do desempenho das plantas por meio da açãode Ach promovendo um aumento sobre a condutância estomática e um efeito osmoprotetor de GABA sobre as plantas em situação de estresse. / Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill), a major oil crop, is very sensitive to environmental factors, and water deficiency is a particularly limiting factor for its development and production. Some substances can be used to minimize the harmful effects of water stress. Bioregulators, such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and Acetylcholine (Ach) act in the defense of plants in response to stress, playing an osmoprotective role and regulating stomatal movement, respectively. The objective of this study was to analyze different modes of exogenous application of these two bioregularators (alone or in combination) and to study their effect on the regulation of soybean response processes to the water deficit. Therefore, it was used in combination of two bioregulator dose of 2.0 mM in soybean plants cv. Intact under different water regimes. The factors studied were: 1) the application of bioregulators (i) in seeds- S (ii) in leaf L ; (iii) in the seed and leaf - SL; (iv) control without application - C; and 2) water regimes: (i) 100% of field capacity (CC) and (ii) suspension of irrigation (SI). Leaf gas exchange and biomass analyzes were performed for the physiological characterization of plants, the activities of the antioxidant enzymes (CAT and APX) and the changes in the transcriptional responses of genes induced by water deficiency, P5CS, LEA and ABA2. For water deficit treatments, a 93% decrease in the photosynthetic capacity (PN) was observed on the sixth day after the suspension of irrigation, as well as a decrease in biomass, in addition to a greater expression of genes induced by water deficiency. The treatment of the combination of the GABA and Ach substances applied to the seed and the leaf under water deficit was highlighted by lower photosynthesis decrease, as well as an increase in stomatal conductance and biomass. For the transcriptional analysis the application of GABA and Ach in seed and leaf showed lower expression of the genes P5CS, LEA and ABA2 and greater activity of the SOD, CAT and APX enzymes, in relation to the control treatment. In our study it was possible to observe that the combined application of the GABA and Ach substances in the seed and leaf at 2.0 mM promoted an improvement of the performance of the plants through the action of Ach promoting an increase on the stomatal conductance and an osmoprotective effect of GABA on plants in a situation of stress.

Numerous studies suggest that modulation of the cholinergic system through the use of nicotinic agonists can improve motor function in humans or animals with motor disorders. Specifically, although there are no approved therapeutics for patients with ataxia, the nicotinic receptor agonist varenicline has demonstrated efficacy to improve coordination and gait in several groups of patients with different subtypes of ataxia. Importantly, the mechanism underlying the varenicline’s mechanism of action to improve motor function remains to be elucidated. Thus, the purpose of these experiments was to first quantify gait impairments in rats with olivocerebellar ataxia utilizing an objective treadmill-based system to investigate temporospatial aspects of animals’ gait. These results were used to calculate an index that characterizes deviations from ‘normal’ gait, as similarly employed in clinical studies. The translational validity of this method of gait assessment was investigated by comparing gait impairments between these animals and those reported for humans with ataxia. It was next investigated whether varenicline could attenuate any gait impairments and thus improve motor functioning in these animals, as suggested by clinical findings. Finally, varenicline’s mechanism of action was investigated by attempting to block its effects by pretreating animals with the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine. Thus, these studies demonstrate the involvement of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the mechanism of varenicline’s effects to improve motor functioning. Moreover, these results provide translational methods by which the efficacy of other, more selective nicotinic agonists to improve motor functioning can be tested preclinically prior to their use in humans with ataxia.

Orientador: Maria Julia Marques / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T17:15:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Taniguti_AnaPaulaTiemi_M.pdf: 2340108 bytes, checksum: d096d9870bc1650ef2e8526da0771778 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: A Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne (DMD) é uma miopatia hereditária caracterizada pela falta de distrofina. Camundongos da linhagem mdx, tal como pacientes com DMD, não expressam a distrofina, desenvolvendo distrofia muscular semelhante a DMD. A junção neuromuscular distrófica apresenta alteração no padrão de distribuição dos receptores de acetilcolina (AChRs), provavelmente devida à falta de distrofina. Alterações semelhantes na distribuição dos receptores ocorrem em fibras musculares normais regeneradas e o terminal nervoso tem papel determinante nestas alterações. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo verificar se o terminal nervoso influencia o padrão de distribuição dos AChRs nas fibras musculares regeneradas distróficas. Animais mdx com 01 mês e 06 meses de idade tiveram o músculo esternomastóideo esquerdo desnervado e injetado com cloridrato de lidocaína. O músculo contra- lateral serviu como controle. Após 10 dias, os animais foram sacrificados, os AChRs marcados com rodamina-a-bungarotoxina e observados ao microscópio confocal. Músculos inervados de animais mdx com 01 mês de idade apresentaram os AChRs distribuídos em ilhas em 75,2% das JNMs observadas (n=137), enquanto animais com 06 meses de idade apresentaram 100% das JNMs (n=114) em ilhas. Na ausência da inervação, os AChRs distribuíram-se em padrão desnervado tipo braços contínuos em 79,4% das JNMs observadas (n=90) de animais com 01 mês de idade e em padrão desnervado tipo ilhas em 100% das JNMs (n=100) de animais com 06 meses de idade. Estes resultados sugerem que o terminal nervoso contribui de forma significativa para as alterações no padrão de distribuição dos AChRs de músculos distróficos inervados / Abstract: Changes in the distribution of acetylcholine receptors have been reported to occur at the neuromuscular junction of mdx mice and may be a consequence of muscle fiber regeneration rather than the absence of dystrophin. In the present study, we examined whether the nerve terminal determines the fate of acetylcholine receptor distribution in the dystrophic muscle fibers of mdx mice. The left sternomastoid muscle of young (1 month old) and adult (6 months old) mdx mice was injected with 60 ml lidocaine hydrochloride to induce muscle degeneration-regeneration. Some mice had their sternomastoid muscle denervated at the time of lidocaine injection. After 10 days of muscle denervation, nerve terminals and acetylcholine receptors were labeled with 4-Di-2-ASP and rhodamine-a-bungarotoxin, respectively, for confocal microscopy. In young mdx mice, 75% (n=137 endplates) of the receptors were distributed in islands. The same was observed in 100% (n=114 endplates) of the adult junctions. In denervated-regenerated fibers of young mice, the receptors were distributed as branch- like aggregates in 80% of the endplates (n=90). In denervated-regene rated fibers of adult mice, the receptors were distributed in island-like aggregates in 100% of the endplates (n=100). These findings suggest that nerve-dependent mechanisms are involved in the changes in receptor distribution in young dystrophic muscles. In older dystrophic muscles other factors may play a role in their distribution / Mestrado / Anatomia / Mestre em Biologia Celular e Estrutural