A new stain for quantitative measurement of sprouting at neuromuscular junctions

Abstract

A new combined stain for the simultaneous demonstration of motor nerve terminals and cholinesterase at neuromuscular junctions is described. It employs bromoindoxyl acetate dye-staining for cholinesterase and silver-gold impregnation for nerve terminals. The clarity and reliability of the stain permit quantitative measurements of neuromuscular junctions in order to evaluate nerve terminal sprouting as well as other pathological changes. The method is rapid, reproducible, and simple, and it is well suited for the processing of large numbers of frozen sections.