Toxin Mediated Diseases of the Neuromuscular Junction. Pathological changes in neuromuscular junctions of DMSXL mice. (A–F) Representative micrographs of diaphragm muscle cryostat sections that were stained with rhodamine α-BTX (red) and neurofilament antibody (green). (A–C) In wild-type control mice practically all the EPs are innervated by branches of axons. (D–F) In DMSXL mice, EPs with no contact to axon terminals are easily identified. (C, F) A single EP is shown at higher magnification. In DMSXL mice (D–F), the EPs have a smaller size and less complex shape than in control mice (A–C). The mean surface area of EPs, the shape complexity, and the density of acetylcholine receptors on post-synaptic membranes labeled with rhodamine α-BTX are represented in the three histograms. More than 1500 EPs were measured from each mouse line (n=7). Statistical analysis of the results reveals that all three parameters are significantly (**P<0.01) smaller in DMSXL mice compared with wild-type control mice. Scale bars: 100 μm (A,D); 50 μm (B,E); 20 μm (C,F). Functional and histopathological identification of the respiratory failure in a DMSXL transgenic mouse model of myotonic dystrophy: Panaite PA, Kuntzer T, Gourdon G, Lobrinus JA, Barakat-Walter I - Disease models & mechanisms (2012). Not altered. CC.