Effect of age and muscle type on regeneration of neuromuscular synapses in mice

Abstract A silver stain was used to investigate the regeneration of nerve terminals in mouse diaphragm, superior gluteus and tensor fasciae latae (TFL) muscles following nerve crush injury at different ages (9–530 days). The development of myelinated terminal branches and the development and elimination of terminal sprouts were little affected by age or muscle type following reinnervation. However, multiple axonal innervation developed on up to 50% of the gluteus and TFL muscle fibres, and this was subsequently eliminated only in the youngest animals.