Dissection of Single Skeletal Muscle Fibers for Immunofluorescent and Morphometric Analyses of Whole-Mount Neuromuscular Junctions
Posted by Ernesto on Wednesday, 4 June 2025
Autores:
Carmen Bolatto # 1 , Silvia Olivera-Bravo # 2 , Sofía Cerri 3
Revista (o libro):
J Vis Exp
Año:
2021
Mes-dia:
0814
issue, vol, paginas, etc:
(174)
doi:
10.3791/62620
PMID:
34459813
Abstract:
The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a specialized point of contact between the motor nerve and the skeletal muscle. This peripheral synapse exhibits high morphological and functional plasticity. In numerous nervous system disorders, NMJ is an early pathological target resulting in neurotransmission failure, weakness, atrophy, and even in muscle fiber death. Due to its relevance, the possibility to quantitatively assess certain aspects of the relationship between NMJ components can help to understand the processes associated with its assembly/disassembly. The first obstacle when working with muscles is to gain the technical expertise to quickly identify and dissect without damaging their fibers. The second challenge is to utilize high-quality detection methods to obtain NMJ images that can be used to perform quantitative analysis. This article presents a step-by-step protocol for dissecting extensor digitorum longus and soleus muscles from rats. It also explains the use of immunofluorescence to visualize pre and postsynaptic elements of whole-mount NMJs. Results obtained demonstrate that this technique can be used to establish the microscopic anatomy of the synapsis and identify subtle changes in the status of some of its components under physiological or pathological conditions.
Afiliaciones:
1 Developmental Biology Laboratory, Histology and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la República; cbolatto@fmed.edu.uy.
2 Cell and Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Clemente Estable Biology Research Institute (IIBCE), Ministerio de Educación y Cultura.
3 Developmental Biology Laboratory, Histology and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la República; Cell and Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Clemente Estable Biology Research Institute (IIBCE), Ministerio de Educación y Cultura.
# Contributed equally.
Enlace pubmed:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34459813/
Enlace full text:
https://doi.org//10.3791/62620
Cita:
Bolatto C, Olivera-Bravo S, Cerri S. Dissection of Single Skeletal Muscle Fibers for Immunofluorescent and Morphometric Analyses of Whole-Mount Neuromuscular Junctions. J Vis Exp. 2021 Aug 14;(174). doi: 10.3791/62620. PMID: 34459813.