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Ultrastructure of normal and stimulated motor endplates

With comments on the origin and fate of synaptic vesicles

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Summary

The ultrastructure of normal endplates and endplates stimulated at 50–100 Hz for varying periods of time has been examined in rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations. Stimulation outlasted fixation in the experiments.

Smooth synaptic vesicles, complex vesicles and empty shells occur in both normal and stimulated endplates. Elongated vesicle profiles, presumably representing cylindrical vesicles, occur in significant number, and some are coated. “Double vesicles”, composed of a smaller vesicle within another, constitute about 1% of the vesicle population.

Tubules of the agranular endoplasmic reticulum as well as special arrays of terminal axoplasmic membranes and cisterns occur regularly. The synaptic vesicles appear to form both from these structures and by micropinocytosis.

Stimulation results in a decrease in the number of spherical synaptic vesicles and an absolute and relative increase in the number of elongated vesicles. Membraneous arrays appear to increase within the terminals during stimulation, and mitochondria approach the presynaptic membrane. The number of micropits, complex vesicles and shells is hardly changed. The diameter of spherical synaptic vesicles decreases during stimulation.

The results are discussed in relation to the vesicle hypothesis and theories on origin and fate of synaptic vesicles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anatomical Institute, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Helge Korneliussen

  2. Division for Toxicology, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, Kjeller, Norway

    Helge Korneliussen

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  1. Helge Korneliussen
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The author is indebted to Dr. J. A. B. Barstad and Dr. G. Lilleheil, Division for Toxicology, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, for their aid with the stimulation procedure, and to Professor F. Walberg and Dr. E. Rinvik for suggestions during the preparation of the manuscript.

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Korneliussen, H. Ultrastructure of normal and stimulated motor endplates. Z.Zellforsch 130, 28–57 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306993

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