Na+ channels at postsynaptic muscle membrane affects synaptic transmission at neuromuscular junction: a simulation study.

Mufti Mahmud, M Mostafizur Rahman, Stefano Vassanelli

NeuroChip Laboratory of Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy. mahmud@dei.unipd.it

Conference proceedings : ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Conference 2012

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Motor movement is controlled by the brain through transmitting electrochemical signals to the muscle fibers that cause the contraction of the muscles. A motoneuron carrying the impulse creates a synapse with the muscle fiber which is known as Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ). The muscle infolds taking part in the synapse contains large amount of sodium channels. The current that passes through the narrow synaptic cleft affects the adjacent membranes electrical properties in turn modifies the synaptic transmission process. Considering this phenomenon we have studied the effect of sodium channels at the NMJ to find out its effect in the generation of extracellular potentials at the synaptic cleft of the junction. Through simulation results we confirm that the conductivity of the sodium channels present at the postsynaptic muscle membrane and the junction height affect the generation of the extracellular potentials at the junction which modifies the synaptic properties of the NMJ.

Citation

Mufti Mahmud, M Mostafizur Rahman, Stefano Vassanelli. Na+ channels at postsynaptic muscle membrane affects synaptic transmission at neuromuscular junction: a simulation study. Conference proceedings : ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Conference. 2012;2012:3616-9