title: Visualization of neuromuscular junctions over periods of several months in living mice.
abstract: Identified neuromuscular junctions were followed in the sternomastoid muscle of living mice for several months by repeated staining with the fluorescent dye 4-(4-diethylaminostyryl)-N-methylpyridinium iodide (4-Di-2-ASP; Magrassi et al., 1987). Overall terminal growth occurred at many endplates; however, the branching pattern of presynaptic arbors was largely unchanged, even after several months. The absence of significant remodeling over time was not a result of dye-staining, since sprouting was readily induced at residual motor endings by partial denervation. We conclude that--apart from overall growth--most neuromuscular junctions in the adult mouse are stable over intervals that represent a significant fraction of the animal's lifetime.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000032:analysis* / Q000254:growth & development; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds; C052247:4-(4-diethylaminostyryl)-N-methylpyridinium