Thiocholine methods for the demonstration of acetylcholinesterase in neuromuscular junctions

The extensor digitorum longus muscles of rat were stained for the localization of acetylcholinesterase activity at the neuromuscular junctions. The modified methods of Koelle-Friedenwald and Karnovsky-Roots were used with acetylthiocholine iodide as the substrate. The merits and demerits of both these methods are discussed. TEM and SEM X-ray dispersive analyses of the muscle fibres treated histochemically by both the methods were also made in order to elucidate further the nature of the reaction products. Denervated muscles were subjected to similar treatment.