Mapping the Interscutularis Muscle Connectome
Author Information
Author(s): Lu Ju, Tapia Juan Carlos, White Olivia L, Lichtman Jeff W
Primary Institution: Harvard University
Hypothesis
What is the complete wiring diagram of the interscutularis muscle in adult transgenic mice?
Conclusion
The study reveals significant variability in the wiring diagrams of motor axons innervating the interscutularis muscle, even between corresponding neurons on the left and right sides of the same animal.
Supporting Evidence
- The connectomes demonstrate the anatomical basis of graded tensions in muscle function.
- There is a robust quantitative relationship between axonal caliber, length, and synapse number.
- Significant structural variations were found among corresponding neurons in the same animal.
- Motor unit sizes in all six connectomes were distributed similarly.
Takeaway
Scientists looked at how nerves connect to muscles in mice and found that even similar nerves can look very different from each other.
Methodology
The researchers reconstructed the connectomes of six interscutularis muscles from adult transgenic mice using confocal microscopy and 3D reconstruction tools.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in the selection of muscle samples and the interpretation of connectomic data.
Limitations
The study is limited to a small number of muscles and may not represent all mammalian muscle connectomes.
Participant Demographics
Adult transgenic mice expressing fluorescent proteins.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI of slope: 0.3903–0.5185
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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