B0004108 Poly-innervated neuromuscular junctions

B0004108 Poly-innervated neuromuscular junctions

Credit: Tom Gillingwater. Wellcome Images

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Confocal image of axons making contact with muscle

fibres at neuromuscular junctions. Initially, as

seen here, more than one nerve fibre contacts each

muscle fibre. As development proceeds, the mature

innervation pattern is established where only one

motor axon contacts each muscle fibre. This

transition is called synapse elimination and is

thought to involve of competition between the

neurons. The neurotransmitter acetylcholine (red)

sends the signals from the nerve to makes the

muscle contract.

Confocal micrograph

Published: -

 

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