Fig. 3.
Gene expression changes in motor neuron-muscle co-cultures. Fold change in mRNA expression levels for genes encoding markers of myotube maturation and post-synaptic membrane development, measured using quantitative RT-PCR. Expression levels of MYH1 (adult fast isoform), MYH3 (embryonic isoform), and MYH8 (neonatal isoform), as well as troponin T1 and AChRε were quantified and expressed relative to levels recorded for 3D constructs without motor neurons at equivalent time points. In all cases, CT values were normalised to an internal housekeeping gene (RPIIB) before subsequent analysis. For all genes examined, with the exception of MYH1, values were found to be significantly greater than those recorded for MDC-only controls (* p < 0.05). n = 3. Error bars = SEM.