Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 9, 2026
11:15
Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise
Published on: March 20, 2012
42.4K
Glial βII Spectrin Contributes to Paranode Formation and Maintenance
Keiichiro Susuki1,2, Daniel R Zollinger3, Kae-Jiun Chang3,4
1Department of Neuroscience, keiichiro.susuki@wright.edu rasband@bcm.edu.
Summary
Glial βII spectrin is crucial for maintaining nerve function. Its absence disrupts paranodal junctions, leading to muscle weakness and slowed nerve conduction in mice.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Action potential conduction relies on voltage-gated sodium channels at nodes of Ranvier.
- Paranodal junctions, formed by glial cells and axons, are vital for node assembly and maintenance.
- Molecular mechanisms of paranode formation and maintenance are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of glial βII spectrin in paranodal junction assembly and maintenance.
- To determine the functional consequences of βII spectrin disruption in myelinating glia.
Main Methods:
- Generated mutant mice lacking βII spectrin in myelinating glial cells (Sptbn1-floxed; Cnp-Cre).
- Assessed sciatic nerve function and grip strength in juvenile and middle-aged mice.
- Analyzed paranodal structure using immunofluorescence and electron microscopy in the peripheral and central nervous systems.
Main Results:
- Mutant mice exhibited reduced grip strength and sciatic nerve conduction slowing at juvenile and middle-aged stages.
- Disorganized paranodes were observed in the peripheral and central nervous systems of mutant mice.
- Electron microscopy revealed partial loss of transverse bands at the paranodal axoglial junction in aged mutants.
Conclusions:
- A spectrin-based cytoskeleton in myelinating glia is essential for paranodal junction formation and maintenance.
- Disruption of glial βII spectrin leads to functional deficits in nerve conduction and muscle strength.
- These findings highlight the critical role of glial cytoskeletal components in nervous system integrity.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Binet's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence
1.8K
Alfred Binet, along with his student Théophile Simon, was tasked by the French Ministry of Education in 1904 to create a method for identifying students who struggled to learn through conventional classroom instruction. This initiative aimed to address overcrowding by placing such students in specialized schools. Binet and Simon developed an intelligence test comprising 30 tasks, ranging from simple commands, like touching one's nose or ear, to more complex tasks, such as drawing...
1.8K
01:04Glial Cells
94.2K
Overview
94.2K
01:23Wechsler's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence
2.1K
David Wechsler, a psychologist who worked with World War I veterans, developed a significant IQ test in 1939 called the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale. This test was innovative because it combined several subtests that measured both verbal and nonverbal skills, reflecting Wechsler's belief that intelligence is a global capacity involving purposeful action, rational thinking, and effective interaction with the environment. This test later evolved into the Wechsler Adult Intelligence...
2.1K
01:14Maintenance of the ES Cell State
2.8K
The cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass only remain pluripotent for a short time. This state of pluripotency and self-renewal can be maintained in embryonic stem (ES) cell culture by adding specific chemicals or growth factors to ensure the cells can continue dividing and later differentiate into different cell types. In some cases, the cells are grown on a feeder layer of differentiated cells, which provides the growth factors and extracellular matrix components necessary for stem cell...
2.8K
02:12Relationship Formation
46.2K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
46.2K
01:29Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model
329
The Self-Evaluation Maintenance (SEM) model offers a psychological framework to understand how individuals’ self-esteem is influenced by the achievements of others, particularly those with whom they share close personal bonds. The SEM model operates when personal rather than social identity guides individuals. Central to this model is the notion that individuals have an inherent desire to preserve a favorable self-image, which is continuously shaped by interpersonal comparisons and...
329