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Updated: Sep 25, 2026

Axonal Transport of Organelles in Motor Neuron Cultures using Microfluidic Chambers System
Published on: May 5, 2020
Unique role of dystroglycan in peripheral nerve myelination, nodal structure, and sodium channel stabilization
Fumiaki Saito1, Steven A Moore, Rita Barresi
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Abstract:
Dystroglycan is a central component of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex implicated in the pathogenesis of several neuromuscular diseases. Although dystroglycan is expressed by Schwann cells, its normal peripheral nerve functions are unknown. Here we show that selective deletion of Schwann cell dystroglycan results in slowed nerve conduction and nodal changes including reduced sodium channel density and disorganized microvilli. Additional features of mutant mice include deficits in rotorod performance, aberrant pain responses, and abnormal myelin sheath folding. These data indicate that dystroglycan is crucial for both myelination and nodal architecture. Dystroglycan may be required for the normal maintenance of voltage-gated sodium channels at nodes of Ranvier, possibly by mediating trans interactions between Schwann cell microvilli and the nodal axolemma.
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