During normal postnatal development, mammalian skeletal muscles undergo an orderly process of synapse elimination, whereby each muscle fiber begins in a state of polyinnervation but eventually loses all except one of its inputs. Dr. Van Essen will study several aspects of synapse elimination and plasticity of connections in the soleus muscle of the rabbit. In one set of projects, Dr. Van Essen and his colleagues will examine the role of nerve and muscle activity in this process of synapse elimination. Previous studies have shown that increased activity accelerates the overall rate of synapse elimination, while differential activity among competing synapses confers an advantage to the less active inputs. Dr. Van Essen is interested in clarifying the mechanisms whereby activity exerts these dual influences and also in ascertaining whether natural activity patterns contribute to sculpting of the distribution of motor unit sizes in the adult. Another set of projects is aimed at understanding the basis of fiber-type specificity, whereby fast- and slow-contracting muscle fibers are selectively innervated by fast and slow motor neurons. Dr. Van Essen has made a number of important contributions to this field over the past ten years. The results of these new studies will certainly add fundamental information about the important developmental phenomenon of synapse elimination.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS)
Application #
8708342
Program Officer
Steven C. McLoon
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1987-09-01
Budget End
1990-02-28
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
$140,792
Indirect Cost
Name
California Institute of Technology
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Pasadena
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
91125