Molecular Mechanisms of Treadmill Therapy on Neuromuscular Atrophy Induced via Botulinum Toxin A

Figure 1

The influence of treadmill exercise on muscle activity and NMJ following BoNT-A injection. Representative pictures of H&E staining of (a) the normal architecture of the gastrocnemius without botulinum toxin injection and (c) atrophy in the gastrocnemius muscle 4 weeks after botulinum toxin injection. Immunohistochemistry staining of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) receptors of (b) the normal configuration of NMJ and (d) changes in the NMJ 4 weeks after BoNT-A injection. A widening of the NMJ (which loses its normal configuration), as well as the diffuse extrajunctional staining of acetylcholine receptors, was noted. Red: NMJ receptors. Green: neurofilament. Scale bar = 50 μm.