| First Author | Chen HH | Year | 2002 |
| Journal | J Neurosci | Volume | 22 |
| Issue | 9 | Pages | 3512-9 |
| PubMed ID | 11978828 | Mgi Jnum | J:76256 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2178914 | Doi | 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-09-03512.2002 |
| Citation | Chen HH, et al. (2002) Muscle spindle-derived neurotrophin 3 regulates synaptic connectivity between muscle sensory and motor neurons. J Neurosci 22(9):3512-9 |
| abstractText | Ia afferents induce the formation of muscle spindles prenatally and maintain them postnatally. To address whether spindles, in turn, regulate the function of Ia afferents, we examined Egr3-null mutant mice (Egr3-/-), in which muscle spindles degenerate progressively after birth. Egr3-/- mice develop gait ataxia, scoliosis, resting tremors, and ptosis, suggesting a defect in proprioception. Despite the normal morphological appearance of peripheral and central sensory projections, we observed a profound functional deficit in the strength of sensory-motor connections in Egr3-/- mice. Muscle spindles in Egr3-/- mice do not express NT3. Intramuscular injections of NT3 to Egr3-/- mice during the postnatal period restored sensory-motor connections. Thus, NT3 derived from muscle spindles regulates the synaptic connectivity between muscle sensory and motor neurons. |
