Figure 3.

A: representative maximum projection of confocal images of control and VML-injured NMJs, labeled with synaptic vesicle/neurofilament (red; presynaptic terminal and axon) and α-bungarotoxin (green; postsynaptic motor end-plate). The merged image displays overlap of pre- and postsynaptic structures. B: two-dimensional (2-D) planar area of the presynaptic and postsynaptic terminals were similar in control and VML-injured NMJs. Data were analyzed using a mixed linear model where the random effect of animal was significant (presynaptic P = 0.004; postsynaptic P = 0.007). Data are presented as overall group means ± SD; additionally each dot represents an individual NMJ and each color represents an individual muscle. There was a significant shift in NMJ size distributions for both pre- (C) and post-synaptic (D) area as determined by chi-square analysis (P < 0.05) compared with control. Red bars represent controls, blue bars indicate significantly different from controls, and gray bars indicate no difference from control; individual P values are noted at each group. NMJ, neuromuscular junctions; VML, volumetric muscle loss.