Summary
The glial processes ensheathing the motor nerve terminals on the retractor unguis muscle of Locusta migratoria are described. Ultrastructural changes observed after electrical nerve stimulation (20 Hz, 7 min) without or with subsequent rest (2 min, 1 h) are analysed morphometrically. Immediately after stimulation both the average terminal circumference (+ 23 %) and its proportion covered by glial processes (+ 16%) are significantly increased. The mean number of Schwann cell processes per μm of terminal circumference (without stimulation: 0.86±0.04) is also affected: Immediately after stimulation it is increased by about 15 % and after 2 min of rest even by 36 %. The periaxonal cleft (without stimulation: 16.5 nm±0.36) becomes wider immediately after stimulation by about 19 %, an effect which is almost reversed after 1 h of rest. It is suggested that these changes are a consequence of the enlargement of the nerve terminal's surface upon massive exocytotic activity and that they are possibly mediated by mechanical attachment between glial and terminal plasma membranes.
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I wish to thank Dr. C. Walther for helpful discussions and supply of part of the material, Mrs. C. Dittrich and Mrs. D. Labeille for technical assistance, Prof. Dr. W.-G. Forssmann and Dr. C. Walther for critical reading of the manuscript and Dr. D. Ballentyne for improving the English. This investigation has been supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 138).
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Reinecke, M. Ultrastructural changes in the glial cells at neuromuscular synapses of Locusta migratoria occurring after nerve stimulation and subsequent rest. Cell Tissue Res. 201, 441–450 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237002
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237002