Development of Muscles in the Dorsal Foreleg of Rat Embryos. A Light Microscopic Study with the in situ Cholinesterase Staining Technique

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Abstract
The development of muscles from the dorsal side of the forelegs from 13- to 21-day-old rat embryos was investigated under a light microscope. The muscle blastemata and individual muscles were stained in situ with the cholinesterase technique. The first muscle blastemata are visible on the early day 13. It appears that mainly myotubes are stained. The antebrachial and brachial extensor muscles form separated anlagen which connect on the late day 13 in the proximal region of the extensor carpi ulnaris muscle. The individualization of the muscles in a muscle blastema takes place on days 13 and 14. On day 15 all extensor muscles are visible. However, at this time the inserting points of some of these muscles are not yet visible after staining with alcian blue. On the early day 16 the motor end-plates are conspicuous. Due to the content of unspecific cholinesterase in rat embryos the tendons are also stained on day 16. Muscles and tendons remain stainable until birth. In addition to the muscles also the nerves, especially the epifascial nerves, stain very well with the acetylcholinesterase reaction.