Extrajunctional Acetylcholine Receptors: Alterations in Human and Experimental Neuromuscular Diseases

Steven P. Ringel, Adam N. Bender, W. King Engel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Diffuse extrajunctional acetylcholine receptors (AChR) of skeletal muscle fibers were readily visualized by light and electron microscopy in muscle biopsy specimens of experimental denervation and human denervating diseases by use of an α-bungarotoxin immunoperoxidase technique. In peripheral neuropathies and various motor neuron diseases, a significant number of muscle fibers appearing denervated by histochemical criteria have diffuse extrajunctional AChR like those experimentally denervated by cutting the motor nerve supply. In portions of muscle fibers experimentally deprived of neuronal influence by direct injury, diffuse extrajunctional AChR developed, demonstrating that a denervation-like diffuse appearance of extrajunctional AChR can develop other than with neuronal damage, ie, it can be myogenous. Similar extrajunctional AChR was seen in some regenerating fibers of human myopathies, especially inflammatory myopathies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)751-758
Number of pages8
JournalArchives of Neurology
Volume33
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1976

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