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Updated: May 17, 2026

Functional and Morphological Assessment of Diaphragm Innervation by Phrenic Motor Neurons
Published on: May 25, 2015
IgG anti-Galnac-GD1a antibodies bind to neuromuscular junctions of rat hemidiaphragm
Takumi Nagaoka1, Sayako Hotta, Terumasa Chiba
1Department of Medicinal Pharmacology, Showa Pharmaceutical University, 3-3165 Higashitamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan.
Introduction:
We investigated the localization of a ganglioside, N-acetylgalactosaminyl GD1a (GalNAc-GD1a), in peripheral nerves with an IgG anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibody, which was produced in rabbits immunized with GalNAc-GD1a.
Methods:
Teased fibers from ventral and dorsal roots and hemidiaphragm sections of rats were assessed using fluorescent double- and triple-labeling methods.
Results:
The nodal and paranodal regions of teased fibers from ventral roots were immunostained with IgG anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibodies. After collagenase treatment, no staining was seen with IgG anti-GalNAc-GD1a or anti-NF200 antibodies, whereas α-bungarotoxin selectively stained nerve terminals. In cross-sectional and longitudinal sections of rat hemidiaphragm, IgG anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibodies overlapped with α-BuTx and anti-NF200 antibodies, indicating that GalNAc-GD1a is localized to the nerve terminal. IgG anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibody staining also overlapped with that of AChR clusters and syntaxin-positive presynaptic nerve terminals.
Conclusion:
GalNAc-GD1 is localized in both pre- and postsynaptic nerve terminals of neuromuscular junctions.
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