[Neurofilament immune fluorescence staining:  a new method for observing the morphology of the motor endplate].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of neurofilament (NF) immune fluorescence staining on observing morphology of the motor endplate.


METHODS
Six SPF rats were used and their bilateral soleus muscles harvested under anesthesia. Then the samples were fixed with polyphosphate formaldehyde,  and made frozen sections. Finally the neurofilament immunofluorescence staining was performed. The morphology of the motor endplate was observed  under fluorescence microscope and laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscope.


RESULTS
The claw-shape motor endplate was seen clearly  under the fluorescent microscope and laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscope, and the images observed used to reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of motor endplate.


CONCLUSIONS
Neurofilament immune fluorescence staining is a useful method for the morphology study of the  motor endplate.
Department of Trauma and Orthopeadics, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.
Yu-hui
YH
Kou
Tian-bing
TB
Wang
Pei-xun
PX
Zhang
Xiao-feng
XF
Yin
Na
N
Han
Jing
J
Wang
Hong-bo
HB
Zhang
Dian-ying
DY
Zhang
Bao-guo
BG
Jiang
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins