Morphological changes in the human end plate with age

We carried out a light and electron microscopic study on end plates and related structures in external intercostal muscles from subjects aged between 4 and 77 years. Light microscopically end plates maintained the same size, did not increase in number and showed no sprouting of terminal axons, all indicating that major compensatory histological changes to maintain adequate neuromuscular transmission with age were not required. At the ultrastructural level end plates became more complex mainly at the postsynaptic side. The latter included increased length and branching of the postsynaptic membrane with enlargement of the postsynaptic area, and degeneration of junctional folds. However, some neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) showed little branching of the postsynaptic membrane, even in old age. At the presynaptic side nerve terminals with an irregular shape were noted in the aged. Schwann cell processes were seen to intrude into the primary synaptic cleft. From these data we suggest that degeneration of the postsynaptic membrane with consequent focal denervation of NMJs is a primary event in the age-related changes of end plates. The muscle fibres showed a minor degree of type grouping in old age doubtless due to loss of motor neurons with age.