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New functions for the proprioceptive system in skeletal biology

Blecher, Ronen; Heinemann-Yerushalmi, Lia; Assaraf, Eran; Konstantin, Nitzan; Chapman, Jens R.; Cope, Timothy C.; Bewick, Guy S.; Banks, Robert W.; Zelzer, Elazar

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Authors

Ronen Blecher

Lia Heinemann-Yerushalmi

Eran Assaraf

Nitzan Konstantin

Jens R. Chapman

Timothy C. Cope

Guy S. Bewick

Elazar Zelzer



Abstract

Muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs (GTOs) are two types of sensory receptors that respond to changes in length or tension of skeletal muscles. These mechanosensors have long been known to participate in both proprioception and stretch reflex. Here, we present recent findings implicating these organs in maintenance of spine alignment as well as in realignment of fractured bones. These discoveries have been made in several mouse lines lacking functional mechanosensors in part or completely. In both studies, the absence of functional spindles and GTOs produced a more severe phenotype than that of spindles alone. Interestingly, the spinal curve phenotype, which appeared during peripubertal development, bears resemblance to the human condition adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. This similarity may contribute to the study of the disease by offering both an animal model and a clue as to its aetiology. Moreover, it raises the possibility that impaired proprioceptive signalling may be involved in the aetiology of other conditions. Overall, these new findings expand considerably the scope of involvement of proprioception in musculoskeletal development and function.

Citation

Blecher, R., Heinemann-Yerushalmi, L., Assaraf, E., Konstantin, N., Chapman, J. R., Cope, T. C., …Zelzer, E. (2018). New functions for the proprioceptive system in skeletal biology. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 373(1759), Article 20170327. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2017.0327

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 6, 2018
Online Publication Date Sep 24, 2018
Publication Date Sep 24, 2018
Deposit Date Oct 18, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Print ISSN 0962-8436
Electronic ISSN 1471-2970
Publisher The Royal Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 373
Issue 1759
Article Number 20170327
DOI https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2017.0327

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