The development of vesicular acetylcholine transporter immunoreactivity in the hindlimbs of the opossum Monodelphis domestica.
Vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) was revealed immunohistochemically in light microscopy on hindlimb sections of developing opossums, Monodelphis domestica. In the immobile hindlimbs of the newborn, which comprise cartilaginous bones and loose, unstriated myofibers, scant immunolabeled nerve segments and small spherical terminals, presumably growth cones or immature neuromuscular junctions, are found in the muscle tissue of the thigh, leg and proximal foot, decreasing in number and size proximodistally. When the hindlimbs start moving at 1 week, terminals are more numerous and larger, still decreasing proximodistally, and occur in the newly formed interosseous foot muscles. At 4 weeks, when the hindlimbs start supporting weight and quadrupedal locomotion appears, terminals are more numerous, flattened and in comparable size and density in thigh, leg and foot muscles. By 7 weeks, large and completely flat terminals are observed in groups of 3 to 4 at regular intervals along muscle fibers. VAChT expression develops largely postnatally in the opossum hindlimbs, along a proximodistal gradient that parallels somatic and reflex development.
Barthélemy
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Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, Canada QC H3C 3J7.
Cabana
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D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000906:Antibodies; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000294:innervation*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018878:Limb Buds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000737:chemistry*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D009893:Opossums; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
D000906:Antibodies; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D000109:Acetylcholine