Fig. 2

Time course analysis of abdominal NMJs reveals no denervation at pre-symptomatic stage (P10). a Confocal images show NMJs from P10 Smn ^2B/- abdominal muscles (External Oblique [EO]; Transversus Abdominis [TVA] and Rectus Abdominis [RA]) labeled with bungarotoxin (BTX, red) and antibodies against neurofilament and synaptic vesicle protein 2 (NF/SV2, green). Control is from Smn ^2B/+ P10 EO muscle. Note that although there is evidence of some pre-synaptic swelling, there is no evidence of denervation. P10 is therefore defined as a pre-degenerative time point. Scale bar = 100 μm. b Scatter plot (mean ± SEM) shows the percentage of fully occupied endplates at P10, P13, P21 and P30 in individual TVA (red), RA (orange) and EO (magenta) muscles. Note that no degeneration is observed at P10. Loss of NMJs is progressive from P13 onwards. N = 4 per time point per muscle