Silver cholinesterase immunocytochemistry: a new neuromuscular junction stain

Evaluation of morphological alterations at the neuromuscular junction associated with sprouting or other pathological changes has been limited by the inability to visualize simultaneously the multiple cell types that make up a junction. A new combined stain for the concurrent demonstration of motor nerve terminals, cholinesterase, and Schwann cell myelin and other antigens at neuromuscular junctions using bromoindoxyl acetate dye staining for cholinesterase, silver-gold impregnation for nerve terminals, and immunocytochemistry of selected antigens is described. The clarity of the stain permits graphic demonstration of the alteration of neuromuscular junction components during sprouting as well as other pathological changes.