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Fig. 5 | Molecular Brain

Fig. 5

From: Presynaptic muscarinic acetylcholine autoreceptors (M1, M2 and M4 subtypes), adenosine receptors (A1 and A2A) and tropomyosin-related kinase B receptor (TrkB) modulate the developmental synapse elimination process at the neuromuscular junction

Fig. 5

Postnatal morphological maturation of the postsynaptic apparatus. The axonal elimination process is accompanied by changes in the morphology of the nAChR clusters in the postsynaptic membrane. a, the following maturation stages (MS1–MS4) were defined. MS1: Uniform nAChR oval plaque with an indistinct boundary seen in the majority of NMJs at birth. A uniformly distributed porosity can be observed within this plaque. MS2: nAChR elongated oval plaque with a few hints of inhomogeneities in receptor density. The nAChRs are denser on a few narrow ridges that occur within the plaque. MS3: An oval nAChR plaque with one or more fluorescence-free “holes.” These holes are not innervated. MS4: The oval nAChR areas have been transformed into a more mature branched pattern with a moderately convoluted external border and high and low receptor density areas. The edge of the holes usually has a high density of receptors. Scale bar: 10 μm. b, shows the percentages of the MS1-MS4 nAChR clusters plotted in the interval P5-P15 days

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Molecular Brain

ISSN: 1756-6606