Fig. 7. Reactive NMJ-capping cells are associated with tenascin-C expression but do not require tenascin-C in order to localise, react or spread from NMJs. (A-C) Tenascin-C immunoreactivity (red) spread from the endplate region from 3-6 days after axotomy (left panels) and these tenascin-C-rich regions coincide with the distribution of NMJ-capping cells (green, right panels; AChR counterstained blue). (D,E) Selective X-Gal staining of intramuscular nerve and motor endplates in heterozygous tenascin-C-null mutant mice with lacZ substitution, 5 days after axotomy. The area shown in E corresponds to the area bounded by the boxed outline in D. Unoperated muscles were X-Gal negative (not shown). (F,G) NMJ-capping cells are also localised to NMJ in homozygous tenascin-C-null mutant mice and these cells spread from endplates 3 days after axotomy, as in wild-type mice. Scale bar in C, right: 50 µm (A-C), 100 µm (D), 30 µm (E). Scale bars in F and G: 50 µm.