Salbutamol modifies the neuromuscular junction in a mouse model of ColQ myasthenic syndrome

Authors
GM McMacken, S Spendiff, RG Whittaker, E o'connor et al

Lab
Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute 401 Smyth Road Ottawa, K1H 8L1

Journal
Human Molecular Genetics

Abstract
The beta-adrenergic agonists salbutamol and ephedrine have proven to be effective as therapies for human disorders of the neuromuscular junction, in particular many subsets of congenital myasthenic syndromes. However, the mechanisms underlying this clinical benefit are unknown and improved understanding of the effect of adrenergic signalling on the neuromuscular junction is essential to facilitate the development of more targeted therapies. Here, we investigated the effect of salbutamol treatment on the neuromuscular junction in the ColQ deficient mouse, a model of end-plate acetylcholinesterase deficiency. ColQ_/_ mice received 7 weeks of daily salbutamol injection, and the effect on muscle strength and neuromuscular junction morphology was analysed. We show that salbutamol leads to a gradual improvement in muscle strength in ColQ_/_ mice. In addition, the neuromuscular junctions of salbutamol treated mice showed significant improvements in several postsynaptic morphological defects, including increased synaptic area, acetylcholine receptor area and density, and extent of postjunctional folds. These changes occurred without alterations in skeletal muscle fibre size or type. These findings suggest that _-adrenergic agonists lead to functional benefit in the ColQ_/_ mouse and to long-term structural changes at the neuromuscular junction. These effects are primarily at the postsynaptic membrane and may lead to enhanced neuromuscular transmission.

BIOSEB Instruments Used:
Grip strength test (BIO-GS3)