Abstract: Objective The aim of this research is to study the effects of polyclonal antibodies against ciliary neurotrophic factor(CNTF) on ultrastructure of paralytic muscle induced by botulinum toxin.Methods Botulinum toxin A(BTXA)was injected into bilateral extraocular muscles and facial muscles of 10 New Zealand rabbits.After 3 days,right extraocular muscles and facial muscles were injected polyclonal antibodies against CNTF(anti-CNTF),while left side were injected equivalent normal saline at the same sites.After 14 d of injection BTXA,observe changes of bilateral muscle cell,motor endplate,and nerve fiber by electron microscope.Results After 14 d of injection BTXA,both extraocular muscle and facial muscle atrophy,mitochondria swell,the layers of myelin sheath loosen,seeing myelin-like body,motor end plate is full of lots of clear excitatoty neurotransmitter vesicles.The group of injection anti-CNTF shows the nucleus of myocytes ingression,mitochondria swelling in endochylema,which leads to the vacuole-like degeneration of muscles,local myofilament disrupting and dissolving,degenerative myocytes necrosis and disintegrating fragments.In the motor end plate,there are lots of clear aggregating vesicles too,myelin sheaths increase.There are not obvious structure changes between both of them.Conclusion After injection of polyclonal anti-CNTF,local structure of muscle cell shows unreversible destroy rather than single injecting BTXA,which maybe prolong the time of paralytic muscle resuming.It is suggested polyclonal antibodies against CNTF may prolong the duration of muscle paralyzing induced by botulinum.

Key words: botulinum toxin A, ciliary neurotrophic factor, motor endplate, extraocular muscle, facial muscle