Fig. 4From: VAChT overexpression increases acetylcholine at the synaptic cleft and accelerates aging of neuromuscular junctionsNMJs progressively degenerate in adult VAChTHyp mice. At 1 month of age, there is an increased incidence of NMJs with age- and disease-related structural features in the EDL muscle of VAChTHyp compared to control mice (a, b, e–h). By 5 months of age, there is an additional increase in the number of fragmented and denervated NMJs in male (e–h) and female (i–l) VAChTHyp mice. α-motor axons expressed tdTomato in these mice (green in a–d). Scale bar = 50 μm (a–d), 10 μm (a’–b”’). All mice used in this study were maintained on a C57BL/6 background and only male mice were examined. Ctrl = Chat-cre;tdTom and VAChTHyp = VAChThyp;Chat-cre;tdTom. At least four mice were used for each genotype and per experiment. Error bar = Standard Error. *P value <0.05, **P value <0.01Back to article page