Y. Feng et Cg. Carlson, CHANGES IN THE END-PLATE ACCUMULATION OF ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE DURING SYNAPSE ELIMINATION IN THE MOUSE, Developmental brain research, 79(2), 1994, pp. 151-156
Focal accumulations of acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7), cholin
esterase (ChE, EC 3.1.1.8) and total cholinesterase (TChE; AChE + ChE)
were examined in developing mouse diaphragm by using a modified Karno
vsky/Roots staining method. The lengths of TChE and AChE reaction prod
uct accumulations reached significant peaks on postnatal day (PD) 1 (P
< 0.05), decreased to a minimum on PD 9 and then increased in proport
ion to muscle fiber diameter (PD 9 to adult). The normalized area of a
ccumulation (area of accumulation/fiber diameter) for AChE and TChE al
so decreased by 19% (P < 0.05) between PD 3 and PD 7. In contrast, ChE
focal accumulation did not decrease during the period of synapse elim
ination, but rather increased in proportion to the postnatal growth of
the muscle fiber. These results suggest that AChE is more sensitive t
o neurotrophic influences than ChE; particularly during late embryonic
and early postnatal periods of synapse elimination.