Neuromuscular

TERMINAL MOTOR AXONS & NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTIONS

Acrylamide
Atrophy
Botulinum toxin
Collateral sprouting
Normal

Normal


Human: Silver-P0-Esterase stain
Rat: Silver-P0-Esterase stain

Normal neuromuscular junctions
  • Axon stained black (Silver), innervates a single NMJ
  • Myelin is rust colored (P0 antibody)
  • NMJ region is blue (Esterase stain)

Collateral sprouting


Silver-P0-Esterase stain

Collateral sprouting in patient with ALS
  • Terminal branches from a single axon innervate several neuromuscular junctions
  • This can produce fiber type grouping

Silver-P0-Esterase stain

Terminal loss of myelin on an atrophic axon

Botulinum


Silver-Esterase stain

Botulinum treatment (Rat)

Enlargement of the NMJ with increased terminal branching of the motor axon
Also see: Botulism, Terminal axon pathology

Acrylamide
Silver-Esterase stain

Acrylamide intoxication (Rat)

Enlargement motor nerve terminals

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11/20/2007