R. Cuppini et al., NODAL AND TERMINAL SPROUTING BY REGENERATING NERVE IN VITAMIN-E-DEFICIENT RATS, Journal of the neurological sciences, 117(1-2), 1993, pp. 61-67
The increased number of polyinnervated cells in normal and reinnervate
d extensor digitorum longus (edl) muscle of vitamin E-deficient rats s
uggests enhanced sprouting by motor neurons in conditions of decreased
protection against lipid peroxidation. End-plates and terminal axons
were observed by a combined technique that shows both end-plate acetyl
cholinesterase area and axons. Quantitative observations of nodal and
terminal sprouting in normally innervated and reinnervated edl muscles
of vitamin E-deficient rats were carried out. Branch points of nerve
terminal within end-plates were also observed. Three main results were
obtained. First, a notable increase of both terminal and nodal sprout
ing was found in reinnervated muscles of normal and vitamin E-deficien
t rats; moreover, a relative increase in the number of nodal sprouts o
ccurs in the long run. Second, in muscles of uninjured, vitamin E-defi
cient rats, nodal and terminal sprouting and branching within end-plat
e was greater than in controls. Third, nodal sprouting by regenerating
axons was more affected by vitamin E-deficiency than terminal sprouti
ng and branching within end-plates.