The Agrin/MuSK Signaling Pathway Is Spatially Segregated from the Neuregulin/ErbB Receptor Signaling Pathway at the Neuromuscular Junction

Abstract

The neuregulin/erbB receptor and agrin/MuSK pathways are critical for communication between the nerve, muscle, and Schwann cell that establishes the precise topological arrangement at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction (NMJ). ErbB2, erbB3, and erbB4 as well as neuregulin, agrin, and MuSK are known to be concentrated at the NMJ. Here we have examined NMJs from gastrocnemius muscle of adult rat using immunofluorescence confocal microscopy to characterize in detail the distribution of these proteins relative to the distribution of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). We have determined that erbB2 and erbB4 are enriched in the depths of the secondary junctional folds on the postsynaptic muscle membrane. In contrast, erbB3 at the NMJ was concentrated at presynaptic terminal Schwann cells. This distribution strongly argues that erbB2/erbB4 heterodimers are the functional postsynaptic neuregulin receptors of the NMJ. Neuregulin was localized to the axon terminal, secondary folds, and terminal Schwann cells, where it was in a position to signal through erbB receptors. MuSK was concentrated in the postsynaptic primary gutter region where it was codistributed with AChRs. Agrin was present at the axon terminal and in the basal lamina associated with the primary gutter region, but not in the secondary junctional folds. The differential distributions of the neuregulin and agrin signaling pathways argue against neuregulin and erbB receptors being localized to the NMJ via direct interactions with either agrin or MuSK.

At the mammalian neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the motor neuron axon terminal lies in a trough on the muscle surface known as the primary gutter. There, Schwann cell processes cap axon terminals. Within the primary gutter, the muscle surface gives rise to additional invaginations of ∼1 μm in depth (secondary folds). The primary gutter (including the crests intervening between the secondary folds) and the secondary folds represent distinct subdomains of the NMJ. Many proteins are enriched at the NMJ within a particular subdomain (for review, see Sanes and Lichtman, 1999). For example, acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and rapsyn (a protein associated with the AChR and required for its localization) are enriched in the primary gutter, whereas voltage-gated sodium channels are enriched in secondary folds (Flucher and Daniels, 1989). Dystrophin, a membrane-associated cytoskeletal protein required for membrane stability, is enriched in secondary folds, whereas the dystrophin homolog utrophin is enriched in the primary gutter (Bewick et al., 1992, 1996).

Acetylcholine receptor-inducing activity (ARIA) and glial growth factor II (GGF II) are products of the neuregulin-1 gene, which is subject to extensive alternative splicing (for review, see Fischbach and Rosen, 1997). GGF II, which is synthesized as a soluble, secreted factor, promotes proliferation and survival of Schwann cells (Marchionni et al., 1993). ARIA is synthesized by motor neurons as a transmembrane precursor that is cleaved to release the extracellular ligand. ARIA binds to erbB receptor tyrosine kinases on muscle (Goodearl et al., 1995), initiating a signal transduction cascade (Altiok et al., 1997;Fromm and Burden, 1998; Si et al., 1999) that regulates AChR mRNA transcription by muscle nuclei (Martinou et al., 1991; Chu et al., 1995; Sapru et al., 1998).

ErbB2 and erbB3 are enriched at the NMJ, although reports regarding erbB4 are inconsistent (Altiok et al., 1995; Moscoso et al., 1995; Zhu et al., 1995; Lin et al., 2000). At the NMJ, it is unknown which combination of erbB heterodimers or homodimers is formed. However, not all possible dimer combinations are functional (Guy et al., 1994;Tzahar et al., 1994; Chen et al., 1996; Pinkas-Kramarski et al., 1996). Additionally, individual dimer combinations differ in their signal potency (Lenferink et al., 1998; Waterman et al., 1998).

Agrin is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan released from axon terminals (Ferns et al., 1992; Hoch et al., 1993) where it binds to the MuSK receptor tyrosine kinase complex on muscle, leading to clustering of AChRs (for review, see Glass and Yancopoulos, 1997). Mutant mice homozygous for a disruption in either the agrin or MuSK genes have severely disrupted NMJs (Dechiara et al., 1996; Gautam et al., 1996). Ectopic expression of neural agrin or constitutively active MuSK in noninnervated regions of muscle results in aggregation of NMJ-specific proteins, including erbB receptors (Cohen et al., 1997; Meier et al., 1998; Jones et al., 1999).

Biochemical and heterologous expression experiments support a model where activated MuSK forms a scaffold around which rapsyn self-associates and recruits AChRs. Rapsyn expressed in non-muscle cells is targeted to the plasma membrane where it is organized into aggregates. Coexpressed AChR is recruited to these aggregates (Froehner et al., 1990; Phillips et al., 1991; Ramarao and Cohen, 1998). MuSK and rapsyn expressed in non-muscle cells colocalize, and in rapsyn-deficient mice, AChRs are diffusely distributed, whereas MuSK remains localized in the postsynaptic membrane (Apel et al., 1997).

ErbB3 is not enriched at NMJs of rapsyn-deficient mice, whereas the presence or absence of erbB2 and erbB4 has not been examined (Gautam et al., 1995). This observation, and the results of ectopic agrin/MuSK expression, led us to ask what were the relative locations of components of the neuregulin and agrin signaling pathways. Here we demonstrate that at NMJs of adult rat gastrocnemius muscle, components of these two pathways are spatially segregated, with neuregulin, erbB2, and erbB4 enriched in the depths of the secondary folds, whereas agrin and MuSK are enriched in the primary gutter.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Muscle tissue. Adult Sprague Dawley rats were anesthetized with 10 mg/kg Nembutal (Abbott Laboratories) and perfused through the heart with 150 ml PBS, pH 7.1 and then with 250 ml of a 2% formaldehyde/PBS solution (from paraformaldehyde). The gastrocnemius muscle was dissected, and the muscle was placed in a 20% sucrose/PBS solution at 4°C until the tissue sank. Muscle blocks were embedded in OCT (Sakura), frozen, and stored at −80°C until needed. To obtain cross sections of muscle, the blocks of tissue were cut perpendicular to the axis of the muscle fibers. To obtain en face and side view images, longitudinal sections of muscle were cut parallel to the axis of the muscle fibers.

Antibodies. The rabbit anti S-100 polyclonal antibody (Z 311) was obtained from Dako (Glostrup, Denmark) and used at a 1:1000 dilution. Mouse monoclonal antibodies against utrophin (DRP1) and dystrophin (DYS1 and DYS2) were obtained from NovoCastra Laboratories (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK), and all were used at a 1:10 dilution of hybridoma supernatants. Hybridoma supernatant of a mouse antibody to SV2 was a gift from Kathy Buckley (Harvard Medical School) and was used at a 1:25 dilution. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies against erbB2 (SC-284) and erbB3 (SC-285) were from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Santa Cruz, CA); each was used at a 1:200 dilution. Staining was markedly reduced by coapplication of the respective blocking peptides (SC-284 P and SC-285 P). The mouse monoclonal anti-erbB3 (05-390) and rabbit polyclonal anti-erbB4 (06–572) antibodies were from Upstate Biotechnology (Lake Placid, NY); each was used at a 1:100 dilution. A pan-agrin mouse monoclonal antibody (AGR-550) was from StressGen (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) and used at a 1:200 dilution. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies to MuSK (anti-MuSK/Nsk2 and anti-Cyt-MuSK) were gifts from Markus Ruegg (University of Basel) and Werner Hoch (Max Plank Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie), respectively. They were used at a 1:50 and 1:10 dilution and gave similar results. Anti-neuregulin antibody 1914 was produced by immunizing rabbits with human met-NDF-α_14–241, and it was used at a 1:50 dilution (Sandrock et al., 1995). Anti-neuregulin antiserum HM 24 was produced by immunizing rabbits with a peptide specific for the GGF II isoform of neuregulin, the 11 amino acid β3 exon (STSTPRLSLPE), coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. It was used at a 1:100 dilution. Staining was markedly reduced by coapplication of the peptide used as the immunogen. Bodipy-FL-conjugated α-bungarotoxin (Bodipy-αBtx), Cy3-conjugated goat anti-rabbit, and Cy3-conjugated goat anti-mouse antibodies were obtained from Molecular Probes (Eugene, OR). They were all used at a 1:500 dilution.

Immunohistochemistry. Muscle sections were cut at a thickness of 10 μm in a cryostat (Microm HM 500 OM) and used immediately. The sections were placed onto Superfrost/Plus microscope slides (Fisher Scientific, Pittsburgh, PA). The samples were air-dried, washed for 5 min with PBS, then blocked for 30 min in a PBS solution containing 10% normal goat serum (NGS), 2% fish gelatin, and 10 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA). Primary antibody was diluted in PBS containing 10% NGS and 10 mg/ml BSA, then applied to the sections overnight at 4°C. The sections were washed three times for 5 min with PBS. The appropriate secondary antibody was then applied along with the Bodipy-αBtx in a solution of PBS containing 10% NGS, 0.2% fish gelatin, and 10 mg/ml BSA for 1 hr at room temperature. The sections were washed three times for 5 min. A 5% solution ofN-propylgallate in 90% glycerol was added to the sections, and coverslips were applied and sealed with nail polish.

Light microscopy. Epifluorescence images were obtained using a Nikon Eclipse E800 equipped with a Nikon 20× Plan Apo objective [0.75 numerical aperture (NA)]. Bodipy-FL fluorescence was filtered through a Nikon 91617 FITC, HYQ bandpass filter (emission 515–560 nm). Cy3 fluorescence was filtered through a Nikon 96176 Rhodamine, HYQ bandpass filter (emission 590–650 nm). No bleed-through of fluorescent signal was observed when only one fluorophore was used. Images were acquired with a Micromax digital camera (Princeton Instruments) operated using Metamorph software (Universal Imaging Corporation). Confocal microscopy was performed using a Bio-Rad MRC-1024 laser-scanning unit coupled to a Nikon Eclipse E600 with a Nikon 60× Plan Apo objective (1.40 NA). All confocal images were acquired using a constant iris setting to preserve the thickness of the focal plane. Laser intensity and gain were adjusted on a per image basis to optimally use the full linear range of the camera. The Bodipy-αBtx and the Cy3-conjugated secondary antibody were excited sequentially using the 488 and 568 nm excitation lines of the krypton/argon mixed gas laser. No bleed-through of signals across channels was observed. For en face images, the z-axis was adjusted for each NMJ to find the focal plane for which the Bodipy-αBtx and Cy3-conjugated secondary antibody images were both in focus. When the Cy3-conjugated secondary antibody was localized presynaptically, a focal plane between the presynaptic staining and the primary gutter was chosen. At this focal plane, the Bodipy-αBtx staining preferentially highlighted the upper edges of the primary gutter, with less intense staining at the bottom of the primary gutter. All digital images were processed using Adobe PhotoShop. The contrast was not adjusted on any of the confocal images.

Electron microscopy. Anesthetized rats were perfused through the heart with 2% formaldehyde and 2.5% glutaraldehyde in Sörensen phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, after the vascular tree was rinsed with physiological solution. Fragments of gastrocnemius muscle were then kept in the same fixative for 2 hr at room temperature. They were subsequently post-fixed in osmium ferrocyanide and stained en bloc first with uranyl acetate and subsequently with tannic acid. After they were embedded in Epon-Araldite, thin sections were stained with uranyl and lead, and micrographs were obtained with a Jeol 1200EX electron microscope.

RESULTS

Localization of proteins at the NMJ

Initially, we examined cross sections of adult rat gastrocnemius muscle to confirm that the antibodies we were using revealed the expected enrichment of neuregulin, erbBs, agrin, and MuSK at the NMJ (Fig. 1). NMJs were identified by labeling with Bodipy-αBtx. Consistent with previous results, erbB2, erbB3, and erbB4 were enriched at the NMJ. There was no clear evidence for extra-junctional sarcolemmal staining with any of the antibodies. Immunoreactivity for erbB2 and erbB4 (but not erbB3) was also found at the myotendinous junction (data not shown). Antiserum (HM 24) against the β3 isoform of neuregulin as well as an antibody (1914) against the entire extracellular domain of an Ig-containing isoform (α2) both stained the NMJ but not the extra-junctional sarcolemma. The immunofluorescence signal from two MuSK antibodies showed enrichment at the NMJ, with no staining evident in extra-junctional sarcolemma. An antibody recognizing all agrin isoforms showed strong immunofluorescence at the NMJ. There was no detectable signal from the extra-junctional muscle cell basal lamina, although there was slight staining of non-muscle cells.

Fig. 1.

Immunofluorescence visualization of proteins enriched at the NMJ. Proteins of the agrin/MuSK and neuregulin/erbB signaling pathways as well as marker proteins for subdomains of the NMJ were visualized in cross sections of adult rat gastrocnemius muscle using a 20× objective. Bodipy-αBtx was used to identify individual NMJs. The axon terminal marker SV2, Schwann cell marker S-100, utrophin (a protein enriched in the postsynaptic primary gutter), and dystrophin (a protein enriched in the secondary folds) all show clear staining at the NMJ. Dystrophin additionally shows the expected enrichment along the sarcolemma. Immunofluorescence from antibodies against erbB2, erbB3, erbB4, neuregulin, agrin, and MuSK all show enrichment at the NMJ with little extra-junctional staining of the muscle. Scale bar, 200 μm.

In addition, we examined the distributions of antigens serving as markers to identify subdomains of the NMJ. The antigens were the synaptic vesicle protein SV2 (Buckley and Kelly, 1985) and the Schwann cell calcium binding protein S-100 (Trachtenberg and Thompson, 1997), as well as utrophin and dystrophin, proteins enriched in the postsynaptic primary gutter and secondary folds, respectively (Bewick et al., 1992). All four of the marker proteins showed enrichment at the NMJ. SV2, S100, and utrophin were essentially confined to the NMJ, whereas dystrophin was also observed to stain the surrounding sarcolemma. At the level of resolution obtained using a 20× objective, there were slight differences in the distributions of SV2, S-100, and dystrophin relative to α-Btx. However, the differences were not sufficient to readily distinguish the subdomains.

Electron microscope analysis of the NMJ

Consideration of the ultrastructure of a representative NMJ (Fig.2A) provides a guide indicating how the different subdomains appear when analyzed by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy [see also Bewick et al. (1992)]. If the NMJ were viewed in cross section (Fig.2B), both the axon terminal and terminal Schwann cells would appear offset above the primary gutter region. The secondary folds would appear offset below the primary gutter region. If the NMJ were rotated so that it was viewed en face, the axon terminal would appear largely confined to the primary gutter region. The Schwann cells would appear associated with but not completely confined to the primary gutter region, because (as seen in the cross section) the Schwann cell processes extend beyond it laterally. The secondary folds would have a broader distribution than the primary gutter because of the fact that they extend both downward and laterally into the cytoplasm.

Fig. 2.

Confocal immunofluorescence analysis of marker proteins for the subdomains at adult rat gastrocnemius NMJ.A, Electron micrograph of the NMJ at 1800× magnification. The basal lamina was stained using tannic acid. In this image, two axon terminals lying in primary gutters are evident. The overlying Schwann cells and underlying secondary folds can also be seen. B, A schematic of the electron micrograph showing the relative orientations of the subdomains of the NMJ: Schwann cell (purple), axon terminal (cyan), primary gutter (green), and secondary folds (red). En face (C1,F1, I1, L1) and side view (D1, G1, J1,M1) images of NMJs stained with Bodipy-αBtx. The NMJs were double-labeled with antibodies against SV2 (C2,D2), S-100 (F2, G2), dystrophin (I2, J2), and utrophin (L2, M2) and visualized using a Cy3-conjugated secondary antibody. Color overlays are shown with α-Btx in green and the respective antibody inred (C3–M3). Schematics of these distributions are shown in E, H,K, and N. SV2 is localized to the axon terminal. S-100 is localized to the Schwann cell, and gaps between the primary gutter and the capping Schwann cell can often be seen (G3, arrows). Dystrophin is enriched in the secondary folds. Utrophin is coextensive with α-Btx in the primary gutter. Scale bar, 10 μm.

Confocal characterization of marker proteins

Using confocal immunofluorescence microscopy on longitudinal sections of rat adult gastrocnemius muscle, we examined how the distribution of marker proteins for the NMJ subdomains compared with the distribution of AChR, when the NMJ was viewed in en faceand side view images (Fig. 2C–N). Muscle sections were cut longitudinally, parallel to the surface of the muscle fibers. Muscle cut in this manner will have NMJs on the surface of the sarcolemma distributed evenly about the 360° axis of the muscle fiber. NMJs can be viewed en face when they are aligned parallel to the focal plane of observation. Side views were obtained when NMJs on the surface of the fiber were oriented perpendicular to the plane of focus. In a side view, the distribution of AChRs in the primary gutter region visualized using Bodipy-αBtx generally appeared as a line on the surface of the sarcolemma, often with scalloped depressions corresponding to individual primary gutters. The localization of subdomains in side view images should be essentially equivalent to their localization in cross-section images. The side view images in Figures 2-4 have been rotated such that the muscle fibers are oriented horizontally with the NMJs on the top surface of the sarcolemma and presynaptic structures above the primary gutter region.

Fig. 3.

Confocal immunofluorescence analysis of erbB receptor distributions at adult rat gastrocnemius NMJ. En face (A1, D1, G1) and side view (B1, E1, H1) images of NMJs stained with Bodipy-αBtx. The NMJs were double-labeled with antibodies against erbB2 (A2, B2), erbB3 (D2, E2), and erbB4 (G2, H2) and visualized using a Cy3-conjugated secondary antibody. Color overlays are shown with α-Btx in green and the respective antibody inred (A3–H3). Schematics of these distributions are shown in C, F, and I. ErbB2 is enriched in the secondary folds. ErbB3 is enriched in the Schwann cell. A gap between the primary gutter and the erbB3 immunoreactivity can be seen in E3 (arrow). ErbB4 is enriched in the secondary folds. Scale bar, 10 μm.

Fig. 4.

Confocal immunofluorescence analysis of neuregulin, MuSK, and agrin at adult rat gastrocnemius NMJ. En face (A1, D1, G1,J1) and side view (B1, E1,H1, K1) images of NMJs stained with Bodipy-αBtx. The NMJs were double-labeled with antibodies against neuregulin-1914 (A2, B2), neuregulin-HM 24 (D2, E2), MuSK (G2,H2), and agrin (J2, K2) and visualized using a Cy3-conjugated secondary antibody. Color overlays are shown with α-Btx in green and the respective antibody in red(A3–K3). Schematics of these distributions are shown in C, F,I, and L. The neuregulin 1914 antibody recognizes neuregulin isoform(s) localized to the axon terminal (arrow) and the secondary folds (arrowhead). The neuregulin HM 24 antiserum recognizes neuregulin isoform(s) localized to the Schwann cell. MuSK is enriched in the primary gutter. Agrin appears enriched in the axon terminal and the basal lamina. Scale bar, 10 μm.

When the distribution of the axon terminal marker SV2 was examineden face (Fig. 2C), the immunoreactivity appeared localized within the primary gutter region. Interestingly, the SV2 immunoreactivity was neither continuous nor completely coextensive with Bodipy-αBtx. Rather the staining was largely confined to the central portion of the primary gutter and appeared punctate in nature. When examined in side view (Fig. 2D), SV2 immunoreactivity was offset presynaptically, above the primary gutter (as defined by Bodipy-αBtx fluorescence). The punctate regions of SV2 fluorescence occurred within the “scallops” of the Bodipy-αBtx. Figure2E is a diagram representing the distribution of SV2 relative to Bodipy-αBtx.

When the distribution of S-100, the Schwann cell marker, was examineden face (Fig. 2F), the immunoreactivity was largely confined to the primary gutter region. In contrast to SV2, the S-100 staining was more continuous. This is consistent with a labeling of Schwann cell processes capping the nerve terminal. The staining could also be seen to deviate away from the primary gutter to potentially label the Schwann cell bodies. In side view (Fig.2G), S-100 immunofluorescence was often clearly offset above the Bodipy-αBtx signal, and a gap (indicated by arrows in Fig. 2G3) could be seen between the S-100 immunofluorescence and the Bodipy-αBtx signal. This was consistent with the Schwann cell processes capping the axon terminal at the NMJ. Figure2H is a diagram representing the distribution of S-100 relative to Bodipy-αBtx.

Examined en face, the pattern of immunoreactivity for dystrophin, which is enriched in the secondary folds, was qualitatively similar to that of Bodipy-αBtx (Fig. 2I). However, when the two images are overlaid (Fig. 2I3), it can be seen that the dystrophin signal was more broadly distributed than Bodipy-αBtx, and the region of most intense dystrophin immunofluorescence was just outside the region of Bodipy-αBtx fluorescence (Bewick et al., 1996). The distribution of dystrophin therefore appeared to rim the primary gutter region. Side view images also showed the pattern of dystrophin fluorescence to be different from that of Bodipy-αBtx (Fig. 2J). An overlay of the two images revealed that dystrophin immunofluorescence was offset below the Bodipy-αBtx fluorescence, corresponding to dystrophin in the secondary folds. There was a partial overlap of the two fluorescence signals, perhaps corresponding to low levels of dystrophin in the primary gutter, but the most intense dystrophin signal was distinctly offset from the most intense Bodipy-αBtx region. Dystrophin immunofluorescence did not obviously extend fully into the region labeled by Bodipy-αBtx.

Utrophin, which is enriched in the primary gutter (Bewick et al., 1992), had an immunofluorescence distribution strikingly similar to that of Bodipy-αBtx in both en face and side view images (Fig. 2L,M). Overlay of the images revealed an almost perfect overlap. The distributions of Bodipy-αBtx and utrophin were nearly identical.

Distribution of erbB receptors at the NMJ

The distributions of erbB receptors are shown in Figure3. Antibodies against erbB2 (Fig.3A,B) and erbB4 (Fig.3G,H) have distributions consistent with both erbB2 and erbB4 localized to the secondary folds. En face images of erbB2 and erbB4 showed that the most intense regions of immunoreactivity occurred just outside the primary gutter region (Fig. 3A,G). When examined in side view, the signals from erbB2 and erbB4 were clearly seen offset below the primary gutter region (Fig.3B,H).

The distribution of erbB3 was strikingly different and consistent with erbB3 localization to terminal Schwann cells. Similar results were obtained with both the monoclonal and polyclonal anti-erbB3 antibodies. In en face views (Fig. 3D), erbB3 immunoreactivity appeared mostly confined to the primary gutter. There was a continuous distribution of the immunofluorescence, which at parts extended outside the primary gutter region. When examined in side view (Fig. 3E), erbB3 was offset presynaptically from the primary gutter. A gap (indicated by arrow in Fig. 3E3) could be seen between the erbB3 staining and the primary gutter, similar to the gap seen with S-100. These staining patterns were consistent with erbB3 labeling in both Schwann cell bodies and Schwann cell processes.

Distribution of neuregulin at the NMJ

A neuregulin antibody (1914) generated against the extracellular domain of neuregulin (α2 isoform) labeled both the nerve terminal and the secondary folds, albeit with a higher signal at the nerve terminal. When viewed en face (Fig.4A), neuregulin immunoreactivity could be seen enriched in two subregions. The strongest immunofluorescence was localized to the primary gutter region, with weaker fluorescence observed outside the primary gutter region (consistent with the secondary folds). The staining in the primary gutter was not continuous, but rather was concentrated in punctate regions consistent with neuregulin associated with axon terminals. When examined in side view (Fig. 4B), neuregulin immunoreactivity was also detected in two distinct subregions. There was an intense presynaptic immunofluorescence localized just above the troughs of the primary gutter (Fig.4B2, arrow). There was also less intense immunofluorescence, offset below the primary gutter, in the secondary folds (Fig. 4B2, arrowhead).

The en face and side view images of neuregulin immunoreactivity, as defined by the antiserum against the GGF II (β3) isoform (HM 24), had a distribution consistent with the association of this neuregulin isoform with Schwann cells. In en faceimages (Fig. 4D), the immunoreactivity was not confined to the primary gutter. The staining pattern was very similar to S-100, and it appeared as if Schwann cell processes as well as Schwann cell bodies were labeled. In side view (Fig.4E), the immunoreactivity was clearly offset presynaptically from the Bodipy-αBtx signal.

Distribution of MuSK and agrin at the NMJ

The distribution of MuSK immunoreactivity at the NMJ indicated that MuSK was mainly concentrated in the primary gutter region. When viewed en face (Fig. 4G), MuSK immunoreactivity was in a pattern very similar to Bodipy-αBtx, although there were low levels of MuSK immunofluorescence outside the primary gutter. When the images were overlaid, the regions of most intense MuSK signal overlapped with regions of most intense Bodipy-αBtx signal, which was indicative of a primary gutter localization. When examined in side view (Fig. 4H), immunoreactivity for MuSK overlapped well with Bodipy-αBtx, although the MuSK signal appears broader both above and below the Bodipy-αBtx. Nevertheless, the regions of most intense signal from the two images overlapped.

The distribution of agrin immunofluorescence at the NMJ was most consistent with agrin being concentrated at either the axon terminal or in the synaptic basal lamina, or both. Viewed en face(Fig. 4J), agrin immunoreactivity appeared to be localized to the primary gutter region. When examined in side view (Fig. 4K), agrin appeared offset on the presynaptic side of the primary gutter region with some overlap of the two signals. In Figure 4J, the agrin immunoreactivity does not appear to completely extend over the surface of the synapse. The immunofluorescence of the agrin antibody was not as robust as the other antibodies, which made it difficult to obtain crisp images of its distribution. However, our impression from viewing many NMJs is that agrin immunoreactivity is generally distributed over the entire synapse.

DISCUSSION

In this study, we used epifluorescence and confocal fluorescence microscopy to determine the relative distribution at the NMJ for the ligands and receptors of the neuregulin and agrin signaling pathways. Analysis of muscle cross sections at 20× magnification revealed that immunoreactivities for the erbB receptors, neuregulin, agrin, and MuSK were all clearly enriched at the NMJ. Analysis by confocal microscopy at 60× magnification (1.40 NA) revealed that the neuregulin receptors erbB2 and erbB4 were localized to the depths of the secondary folds, whereas erbB3 was associated with terminal Schwann cells. Neuregulin was found in the secondary folds, optimally positioned to interact with postsynaptic erbB2/4 receptors, whereas the GGF II isoform was associated with terminal Schwann cells, positioned to interact with erbB3 heterodimers. MuSK and agrin were both found in the primary gutter region, at a distance from postsynaptic erbB receptors.

Localization of erbB3 to Schwann cells

Our results show that erbB3 at the NMJ is localized to Schwann cells. Schwann cells are known to synthesize erbB3 (Vartanian et al., 1997). Myelinating Schwann cells along the nerve tract express erbB3 in adult rats and upregulate erbB3 expression after denervation (Carroll et al., 1997; Kwon et al., 1997). We found no evidence for either erbB2 or erbB4 on Schwann cells. Because erbB3 does not form functional homodimers, the manner in which terminal Schwann cells transduce the neuregulin signal is unknown. Myelinating Schwann cells express erbB2 (Kwon et al., 1997), so it is certainly possible that terminal Schwann cells expresses levels of erbB2 or erbB4 below our level of detection. Although erbB3-deficient mice die soon after birth, they are able to form NMJs. Such mutant animals lack both Schwann cells and Schwann cell precursors (Riethmacher et al., 1997).

We were unable to immunohistochemically detect erbB3 in myofibers.Moscoso et al. (1995) reported that erbB3 mRNA was expressed in muscle, although mRNA levels were not enriched in the synaptic region. There may be low levels of erbB3 protein present in the extra-junctional sarcolemma, but consistent with previous results (Altiok et al., 1995;Moskoso et al., 1995; Zhu et al., 1995), we did not detect any in muscle cross sections (Fig. 1). ErbB3 immunoreactivity remains at the NMJ after denervation (Moscoso et al., 1995). We believe that this immunoreactivity may be attributable to Schwann cells. Although Schwann cell processes retract from the primary gutter region after denervation, the Schwann cell bodies remain in the area of the synapse for several weeks (Trachtenberg and Thompson, 1997; Culican et al., 1998). It is possible, however, that muscle upregulates expression of erbB3 at the NMJ after denervation. In cultured myotubes, erbB3 is expressed and phosphorylated in response to neuregulin. At this stage in development, erbB3 may be involved in other roles, such as regulation of myotube fusion and myogenic differentiation (Kim et al., 1999). ErbB3 is absent from the NMJs of rapsyn-deficient mice (Gautam et al., 1995). On the basis of our results, a possible interpretation of this observation is that terminal Schwann cells only express erbB3 in the context of a fully mature NMJ.

Localization of erbB2 and erbB4 in the secondary folds

The erbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases signals through the formation of homodimers and heterodimers on ligand binding. Each specific dimer combination is capable of signaling a distinct biological response (Tzahar et al., 1994; Chen et al., 1996). Only erbB3 and erbB4 are capable of directly binding neuregulin, and erbB2 must form heterodimers with either erbB3 or erbB4 to respond to neuregulin. Although analysis of relative levels of erbB expression in muscle was not performed in this study, previous studies indicate that mRNA levels of erbB2 and erbB3 are greater than erbB4 in whole muscle (Zhu et al., 1995).

The postsynaptic enrichment of erbB2 and erbB4 that we observed suggests that the most likely functional neuregulin receptor in muscle at the NMJ is a heterodimer between erbB2 and erbB4, although homodimers of erbB4 could potentially exist. ErbB2-deficient mice have been generated. These mice still show synaptic enrichment of AChR mRNA (Woldeyesus et al., 1999; Lin et al., 2000). This suggests that ErbB2 is not essential to regulate synaptic transcription. If this is the case, then it is likely that homodimers of erbB4 are able to initiate the neuregulin signaling cascade. ErbB receptors located in the depths of the secondary folds are in close physical proximity to subsynaptic nuclei. This arrangement may help promote the ability of neuregulin to signal to the nucleus.

Because erbB2 and erbB4 are localized to the secondary folds, they cannot be enriched at the NMJ because of direct interactions with rapsyn. Rapsyn plays an essential role in aggregating AChRs in the primary gutter, but its distribution does not extend to the depths of the secondary folds (Flucher and Daniels, 1989), and it therefore cannot interact directly with erbB2 and erbB4.

ErbB2 and erbB4 might be localized to the secondary folds via interactions with a structural protein(s). Sodium channels are known to interact with spectrin, ankyrinG, and syntrophin, proteins that may play a structural role in organizing the secondary folds (Gee et al., 1998; Wood and Slater, 1998). Recent evidence suggests a role for proteins containing the PDZ protein interaction domain in localization of erbB2 and erbB4, but interestingly not erbB3. The C terminus of erbB4 contains the canonical sequence for interaction with PDZ domains: S/T, X, V. Syntrophin and spectrin contain PDZ domains and are enriched at the NMJ (Garcia et al., 2000). Furthermore, the β2 isoform of syntrophin occurs mainly in the secondary folds (Kramarcy and Sealock, 2000).

Neuregulin is present in the secondary folds and associated with terminal Schwann cells

At least 14 splice variants of neuregulin-1 are known to exist (Peles et al., 1993), although the expression of each isoform at the NMJ has not been determined. Here we show that antibodies against two neuregulin isoforms detect neuregulin differentially positioned to interact with erbB receptors on the Schwann cell and in the secondary folds. GGF II, the neuregulin splice variant containing the β3 exon, has been implicated in signaling to glia or Schwann cells (Florini et al., 1996). Consistent with this observation, we have now shown that an antiserum against the β3 peptide was associated with terminal Schwann cells located at the NMJ.

The second neuregulin antibody was generated against the Ig and epidermal growth factor (EGF) common domains and included the α2 insert (Sandrock et al., 1995). This antibody detects neuregulin in the secondary folds and neuregulin associated with the axon terminal. This antibody does not appear to recognize neuregulin associated with the Schwann cell, although β3 isoforms of neuregulin are thought to contain the EGF common domain. Although the epitopes that are recognized by this antibody have not been defined, it would stand to reason that the EGF common domain was not a very antigenic region of the protein. Although levels of neuregulin in the secondary folds appear relatively low, they are correctly positioned to interact with erbB2 and erbB4 on the muscle sarcolemma.

The axon terminal, Schwann cell, and muscle fiber are possible sources of neuregulin. Our results do not address the origin of neuregulin localized at the NMJ. Many isoforms of neuregulin are originally synthesized containing a transmembrane as well as a cytosolic region. These proteins are thought to be proteolytically processed to yield the mature extracellular signaling protein. Neuregulin released into the extracellular matrix interacts with components of the basal lamina (Loeb et al., 1999). Neuregulin is also a heparin binding protein, and one manner by which it might become localized to the secondary folds or Schwann cell is through binding interactions with components of the basal lamina.

MuSK and agrin colocalize in the primary gutter

The majority of MuSK immunoreactivity colocalizes with Bodipy-αBtx fluorescence in the primary gutter. MuSK was therefore well positioned to initiate a signal transduction cascade resulting in the recruitment of rapsyn and AChR to the primary gutter. We detected low levels of MuSK both above and below the Bodipy-αBtx fluorescence. The fact that some of the lower signal exists presynaptically argues that this may be because of a background signal.

Using a pan-agrin antibody on muscle cross sections, we detected agrin only at the NMJ and not extrasynaptically in the muscle fiber. This is consistent with restriction of agrin to the NMJ postnatally (Fallon and Gelfman, 1989; Bowe and Fallon, 1995). Closer inspection using confocal microscopy revealed agrin localized at the axon terminal and in the synaptic cleft of the primary gutter. There it was positioned to interact with MuSK in the primary gutter.

Differential localization of the signaling pathways

The involvement of agrin and MuSK in the localization of the primary gutter proteins rapsyn and AChR has been well studied (Ferns et al., 1992; Glass et al., 1996; Fuhrer et al., 1997; Burgess et al., 1999). We have shown that MuSK is localized to the primary gutter where it can interact with agrin. ErbB2 and erbB4 are enriched in the secondary folds of the postsynaptic membrane where they can interact with neuregulin. Localization of MuSK and agrin essentially to the primary gutter implies that erbB receptors and other secondary fold proteins are not enriched at the NMJ because of direct protein–protein interactions with MuSK. The restricted distributions of neuregulin and agrin argue against free diffusion of these ligands in the synaptic cleft and suggest that their localization is regulated by interactions with other components of the basal lamina.