The Neuromuscular Junction and Botulinum Toxin Type A
10.2490/jjrmc.50.298
- VernacularTitle:神経筋接合部とA型ボツリヌス毒素製剤
- Author:
Naoichi Chino
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
neuromuscular junction;
botulinum toxin type A;
acetylcholine;
methylene blue vital staining;
mid portion of muscle fiber
- From:The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
2013;50(4):298-305
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
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Abstract:
Injecting botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) into spastic muscles is a recent alternative for treating conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, and cerebral palsy. BTX-A injection blocks acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in the muscles. Therefore, BTX-A must be injected near the NMJ. In this paper, the anatomical, histochemical, and electrophysiological studies to determine the location of NMJs in the extremities are reviewed. Further, methylene blue vital staining as a method to identify the intramuscular nerve fibers and NMJs in the muscle and propose a so-called “mid portion of muscle fibers” along with the NMJ map of the upper and lower limbs are discussed.
