Issue Archive

Imaging the neuromuscular junction over the past centuries

Lu Ju, Lichtman J W

Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138

Abstract

The neuromuscular junction （NMJ） has been studied for over a century as a model system for synaptic anatomy, physiology and development. Much of our knowledge of the NMJ has been obtained through imaging techniques, some of which were developed particularly to visualize this synapse's structure and function. In this paper we review the historical development of research on some key aspects of the NMJ, including its structure, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor distribution, the process of synaptic vesicle release, and its development.

Key words: Neuromuscular junction;imaging technique;nicotinic acetylcholine receptor;synaptic vesicle release;development

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 　　E-mail:

Citing This Article：

Lu Ju, Lichtman J W. Imaging the neuromuscular junction over the past centuries. Acta Physiol Sin 2007; 59 (6): 683-696 (in Chinese with English abstract).