Terminal Schwann cells (TSCs) sit close together to form a cap over each neuromuscular junction. It is not known how TSCs interact with each other, but their close physical relationship suggests that they might form cell-cell adhesions. Adherens junctions and tight junctions are well-studied formations of cell-cell adhesions and are typically expressed near each other in the same cells. Previous research has shown that M-cadherin, one of the adherens junction proteins, colocalizes with a TSC marker, suggesting the presence of adherens junctions and tight junctions in TSCs. Additionally, claudin-19, one of the tight junction proteins, is known to be expressed by myelinating Schwann cells, but it is unknown whether claudin-19 is also expressed by TSCs. I therefore hypothesize that claudin-19 is expressed by TSCs and is involved in TSC-TSC interactions. To begin to address this hypothesis, immunolabeling against claudin-19, Schwann cells, and acetylcholine receptors was performed on both cryostat sections and whole-mount of mouse muscles. Claudin-19 expression was found at neuromuscular junctions and was localized to the axon-terminal transition, where myelin ends and TSCs begin. After denervation of the muscle and degeneration of all axons, claudin-19 expression was still present at some neuromuscular junctions. These results show for the first time the expression of claudin-19 in Schwann cells at the rodent neuromuscular junction.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NCSU/oai:NCSU:etd-02182009-233110 |
| Date | 23 February 2009 |
| Creators | Okuwa, Sumie |
| Contributors | Jane L. Lubischer, Robert M. Grossfeld, Brenda J. Grubb |
| Publisher | NCSU |
| Source Sets | North Carolina State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/theses/available/etd-02182009-233110/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dis sertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to NC State University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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