In vivo approaches to neuromuscular structure and function

Approaches that permit direct observation and manipulation of skeletal muscle and its innervation in living animals will continue to contribute to our understanding of neural influences on muscle function in developing and mature animals. Understanding how motor neurons interact with each other, with supporting cells such as Schwann cells, and with their target muscle fibers are fundamental issues in neuroscience, as similar mechanisms are likely to underlie the formation and plasticity of synaptic connections in the less easily accessible central nervous system.