Question

Physiologists discover a new disease affecting neuromuscular transmission at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). They have called the condition PLT disease and it causes weakness and increasing fatigue in skeletal muscles, due to the production of antibodies that target membrane-bound receptors of skeletal muscle cells.

Using your knowledge of neurophysiology (M1) and the muscular system (M4), please answer the following questions below. Be sure to clearly label the different parts.

PART A How will the antibodies produced in PLT disease affect neuromuscular transmission? Identify the specific receptors on the skeletal muscle cells that will be targeted by these antibodies and the neurotransmitters involved.

PART B The physiologists decide to treat PLT disease with a class of drug that enhances cholinergic transmission at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ).

Explain why enhancing cholinergic transmission at the NMJ is a suitable treatment for PLT disease which causes skeletal muscle weakness.

Your extended response should include: a detailed explanation of the events involved in cholinergic transmission, the role of cholinesterase in normal NMJ physiology, the specific action of anticholinesterases on cholinesterase, and how anticholinesterases will affect skeletal muscular contraction.

Answer 1