title: Neostigmine-induced end-plate proliferation in the rat. A study using supra-vital methylene blue.
abstract: The supra-vital methylene blue technique was used to study motor end-plate morphology in 21 BD-1X rats, treated for 7 to 16 weeks with oral neostigmine bromide, and in five control animals. Motor endings of treated animals showed preterminal, terminal, and ultraterminal sprouting and an increase in mean end-plate length (p less than 0.001). These changes were most prominent after 14 weeks of treatment. After 16 weeks of therapy, mean end-plate length decreased and the proliferative abnormality became less evident. The adverse effect of neostigmine on motor end-plates may have clinical relevance in the management of myasthenia gravis and may be partly responsible for the end-plate abnormalities previously reported in this disease.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008751:Methylene Blue; D008875:Middle Aged; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000473:pathology; D009388:Neostigmine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009388:Neostigmine; D008751:Methylene Blue