Evidence of Schwann cell degeneration in the aging mouse motor end-plate region.

An ultrastructural evaluation was made of the changes encountered in the motor endplates of the gastrocnemius muscle of old mice in comparison with young-adult mice. In old, 27-month-old mice, a great variety of changes were recorded. The main abnormalities occurred in the axon terminals, the myoneural junctional folds, and the endomysial space. Loss of synaptic vesicles and mitochondria and vacuolization of axon terminals were common. Shrinkage and degenerative changes of axon terminals were noticed. The end-plate abnormalities were closely associated with an increased amount of collagen tissue, degenerated Schwann cells, and cell debris. Degenerated Schwann cells were not encountered in young-adult mice. In the old group, endplates of normal appearance occurred in the proportion of 40%. The young group had normally structured end-plates in the proportion of 85%. The lesions described are not specific for the aging process.