Table 1 Parameters of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) ultrastructure in the diaphragms of Fgf18+/+ and Fgf18−/− mice.

From: Lack of Fgf18 causes abnormal clustering of motor nerve terminals at the neuromuscular junction with reduced acetylcholine receptor clusters

 

Fgf18+/+

Fgf18−/−

Ratio

p

Nerve terminal area (μm2)

2.25 ± 0.85

10.34 ± 3.34

4.60

1.86 × 10−2

Area of mitochondria/area of nerve terminal (%)

9.88 ± 2.07

5.48 ± 3.33

0.55

5.35 × 10−1

Number of mitochondria (/synapse)

1.50 ± 1.3

1.50 ± 1.65

1.00

8.22 × 10−1

Diameter of synaptic vesicles (nm)

43.57 ± 7.2 (506)

43.29 ± 4.22 (425)

0.99

9.53 × 10−1

Density of synaptic vesicles (/μm2)

19.36 ± 3.93

4.2 ± 2.73

0.22

3.43 × 10−3

Width of the synaptic cleft (μm)

126.99 ± 17.56 (140)

132.53 ± 19.78 (170)

1.04

1.73 × 10−1

Number of active zones (/synapse)

2.71 ± 1.11

1.88 ± 1.04

0.69

8.64 × 10−3

Number of postsynaptic folds (/synapse)

1.47 ± 0.54

0.40 ± 0.10

0.27

5.46 × 10−3

  1. Blinded morphometric analysis is performed on electron microscopic images of the NMJs in the diaphragms at E18.5. A total of 14 NMJs in 4 Fgf18+/+ mice and a total of 17 NMJs in 4 Fgf18−/− mice are analyzed. The numbers of analyzed synaptic vesicles and analyzed synaptic clefts are indicated in parentheses, when applicable. Mean and the standard deviation are indicated. Ratio is calculated by dividing the mean value in Fgf18−/− mice by that in Fgf18+/+ mice. Statistical significance is calculated between Fgf18+/+ mice (n = 4) and Fgf18−/− mice (n = 4) with Student’s t-test.
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