title: Immunohistochemical localization of acetylcholine receptors at human endplates using a monoclonal antibody.
abstract: We describe a simple indirect immunohistochemical method for localization of acetylcholine receptors (AChR) in motor endplates at the light and electron microscopic level. This method involves the use of a monoclonal antibody directed against the main immunogenic region (MIR) of AChRs and is applicable to periodate-lysine-paraformaldehyde (PLP)-fixed tissue. We discuss the advantages of this method, as compared with the alpha-bungarotoxin-immunoperoxidase technique, and stress its value for diagnostic investigations of motor point biopsies from patients with neuromuscular transmission disorders.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002038:Bungarotoxins; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000032:analysis*; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000032:analysis*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002038:Bungarotoxins; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic