title: [Tools and techniques dedicated to neuromuscular junction observation].
abstract: A few decades ago, the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) concept was reduced to two elements: the nerve ending and the facing muscular zone. This description has since changed substantially based on recent studies conducted on the molecular aspects of neurotransmission. The aim of this paper is to provide a synthetic view of the major morphological, molecular and electrophysiological tools used in the analysis of NMJ architecture and its functional characterization.
authors.affiliation: Service de neurochirurgie, CHU La-Milétrie, BP 577, 2, rue de La-Milétrie, 86021 Poitiers cedex, France. p.rigoard@chu-poitiers.fr
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rigoard
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Buffenoir
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bauche
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fares
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hantaï
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Giot
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seguin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huze
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schaeffer
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Maixent
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009435:Synaptic Transmission