SEQUENCE OF MOTOR-NERVE TERMINAL INVOLVEMENT IN ACRYLAMIDE NEUROPATHY

Acrylamide neuropathy is characterized by distal multifocal axonal degeneration. In this condition long and large myelinated fibers are affected more than short and thin fibers. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the sequence of nerve terminal involvement. The study was limited to axons that belonged to one type of neuron, of approximately equal diameter but differing in length. Axon terminals from α motor neurons were investigated in five muscles from rats. The results show that the initial motor nerve terminal degeneration is widespread and not restricted to terminals of the longest axons with the largest volumes. It is suggested that the variation in degree of involvement of the motor nerve terminals is determined both by differences between endplates and the regenerative capacity of neurons. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.