Fluorescent stain along paths of nerve contact extending across the central regions of muscle cells.

1
Anderson, M.J and Cohen, M.W. J.Physiol. 268,
757-773 (1977)
Fluorescent stain along paths of nerve contact
extending across the central regions of muscle
cells. Two days (A, B) and 1 day (C-F) after
staining and adding neural tube cells. The
cultures were examined alive.
2
Anderson, M.J and Cohen, M.W. J.Physiol. 268,
757-773 (1977)
Variety of patterns of fluorescent stain on
nerve-contacted cells, 1 day after staining and
adding neural tube cells. Cultures were fixed in
ethanol and mounted in glycerol.
3
Anderson, M.J and Cohen, M.W. J.Physiol. 268,
757-773 (1977)
A-D long lengths of fluorescent stain associated
with paths of nerve-muscle contact. Cultures were
examined alive 2 days after staining and adding
neural tube cells. E-G reversible inhibition of
fluorescent staining by carbachol. In this
experiment a culture of muscle cells was
maintained in the presence of carbachol (10-5
g/ml.). On day 3 it was exposed to
rhodamine-toxin with carbachol present, rinsed
and then exposed to fluorescein-toxin in the
absence of the drug. After rinsing again, native
toxin was added and neural tube cells were
plated. The culture was examined alive 2 days
later. The example shows bright fluorescein
staining (E) along the path of nerve-muscle
contact (G) and a corres-ponding absence of
rhodamine staining (F).
Thus carbachol reversibly inhibited staining. The
bright areas in the upper right-hand corners of E
and F are associated with the cellular debris
seen in G.
4
Anderson, M.J and Cohen, M.W. J.Physiol. 268,
757-773 (1977)
Changes in distribution of fluorescent stain on
a nerve-contacted muscle cell. A, C 22 hr after
staining and adding neural tube cells. B, D the
same field 18 hr later. There is now more
staining along the path of nerve-muscle contact,
and the patches which were originally present
elsewhere on the cell have either become much
fainter or disappeared entirely. In addition,
many small spots of fluorescent stain have
appeared. Note also that the cell in the upper
left quadrant grew and developed a new patch of
stain in the region of cell extension.  
5
Anderson, M.J and Cohen, M.W. J.Physiol. 268,
757-773 (1977)
Changes in the distribution of fluorescent stain
on a nerve-contacted muscle cell. A, C 21 hr
after staining and adding neural tube cells. B,
D the same field 18 hr later. Note the new nerve
processes along the edge of the cell in the
right-hand portion of the field, and the
increased extent of the staining at the site of
nerve-muscle contact.
6
Anderson, M.J and Cohen, M.W. J.Physiol. 268,
757-773 (1977)
Changes in the distribution of fluorescent stain
after transient nerve contact. A, C 22 hr after
staining and adding neural tube cells. Note that
the growth cone of the nerve process in the lower
right quadrant has contacted one of the muscle
cells. B, D the same field 21 hr later. The
nerve process has disappeared and the patterns of
fluorescent stain on both muscle cells have
changed. Two particles in the lower right
quadrant (B) were autofluorescent (D).
7
Anderson, M.J and Cohen, M.W. J.Physiol. 268,
757-773 (1977)
Changes in the distribution of fluorescent stain
on non-contacted muscle cell. A, C 3 hr after
staining. B, D the same field 24 hr later. The
original patches of stain are still present but
two additional patches have appeared on new cell
projections.
8
Anderson, M.J and Cohen, M.W. J.Physiol. 268,
757-773 (1977)
Changes in the pattern of fluorescent staining on
a non-contacted muscle cell. A,C 2 hr after
staining. B,D the same field 21 hr later. One of
the original patches has elongated whereas the
other has almost disappeared. Note also that the
cell grew in the region of the patches.