Structural and molecular organization, development and maturation of the neuromuscular junction

The neuromuscular junction is made up of the apposition of highly differentiated domains of three types of cell: the motor neuronal ending, the terminal Schwann cell and the muscle postsynaptic membrane. These three components are surrounded by a basal lamina, dedicated to molecular signal exchanges controlling neuromuscular formation, maturation and maintenance. This functional and structural differentiated complex conducts synaptic neurotransmission to the skeletal muscle fiber. Nerve and muscle have distinct roles in synaptic compartment differentiation. The initial steps of this differentiation and the motor endplate formation require several postsynaptic molecular agents including agrin, the tyrosine kinase receptor MuSK. Neuregulin is essentially involved in Schwann cell survival and guidance for axonal growth. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.