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Related Concept Videos

Muscle Contraction01:10

Muscle Contraction

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In skeletal muscles, acetylcholine is released by nerve terminals at the motor endplate—the point of synaptic communication between motor neurons and muscle fibers. The binding of acetylcholine to its receptors on the sarcolemma allows entry of sodium ions into the cell and triggers an action potential in the muscle cell. Thus, electrical signals from the brain are transmitted to the muscle. Subsequently, the enzyme acetylcholinesterase breaks down acetylcholine to prevent excessive...
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Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles01:29

Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles

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The period of muscle contraction primarily influences the duration of stimulation at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the presence of free calcium ions in the sarcoplasm, and the availability of energy or ATP to support contractions.
When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, it depolarizes the membrane and opens voltage-gated sodium channels. Sodium ions enter the cell, further depolarizing the presynaptic membrane. This depolarization causes voltage-gated calcium channels to open....
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 13, 2025

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Therapeutic Effects of FSN Treatment – Bridging Research and Clinical Applications in Neuropathic Pain
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Neuronal Activity in the Sciatic Nerve Is Accompanied by Immediate Cytoskeletal Changes.

Bossmat Yehuda1, Tal Gradus Pery2, Efrat Ophir1

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
|November 15, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Intense neuronal electrical activity triggers a significant decrease in cytoskeletal protein density, revealing a novel link between neuronal function and structural plasticity in vivo. This cytoskeletal rearrangement supports cellular homeostasis and neuronal projection growth.

Keywords:
Calpainbeadingbiophysicsmechanicsneuronal plasticity

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Neuronal activity is known to involve mechanical events and morphological changes.
  • The precise neurophysiological role and molecular mechanisms linking these events to electrochemical processes remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypothesis that intense, physiological electrical activity in neurons induces cytoskeletal depolymerization.
  • To establish a link between neuronal electrical activity and nanoscale cytoskeleton rearrangement in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • Excitation of mouse sciatic nerves using repetitive electrical pulses (5, 10, 100 Hz) for 1-2 minutes.
  • Immediate fixation and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy of excised nerves.
  • Quantification of cytoskeletal protein density (neurofilaments, microtubules) and contrast changes.

Main Results:

  • Physiological stimulation (10 Hz) led to a significant reduction in neurofilament density (to 51.1-55.8% of baseline) and microtubule density (to 23.7-38.5% of baseline).
  • Observed reduction in cytoskeleton-to-cytoplasm contrast, attributed to depolymerized electron-dense molecules.
  • Demonstrated an immediate, nanoscale link between electrical activity and cytoskeleton rearrangement in an in vivo model.

Conclusions:

  • Neuronal electrical activity directly triggers cytoskeletal depolymerization.
  • This cytoskeletal plasticity may reduce cellular stiffness, maintain neuronal homeostasis and morphology.
  • Suggests a mechanism facilitating neuronal projection growth in later stages.