NMJ-MN Image Analysis Toolkit: A Comprehensive Tool for Morphometric and Protein Distribution Analysis of Neuromuscular Junction and Motor Neuron Microscopy Images

The NMJ-MN Image Analysis Toolkit is a curated collection of MATLAB functions and ImageJ macros designed to assist in the morphometric analysis of Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ) and Motor Neuron (MN) microscopy images and the analysis of protein distribution and localisation in immunohistochemically-labelled microscopy images. The toolkit provides a detailed guide on image acquisition and preparation, comprehensive instructions for running image analysis using both MATLAB and ImageJ, and a MATLAB function to collate analysis results into a single Excel file.

The toolkit allows users to process images of fixed and immunostained tissue acquired using a Leica SP8 confocal microscope. It accommodates immunostaining involving AChR, SV2, and 2H3 antibodies, and supports both multi-frame (z-stack) RGB microscopy images and single-channel microscopy images, with a specific folder hierarchy and file structure for optimum functioning. In addition, the toolkit caters to the analysis of four-channel images stained for DAPI, ChAT, TDP-43, p62, and three-channel images stained for DAPI, ChAT, DYNC1H1.

The NMJ-MN Image Analysis Toolkit is a valuable resource for researchers in the field of neurobiology, specifically those working on NMJ and motor neuron studies, offering an accessible means to streamline and enhance image analysis workflows. Please note that the toolkit has not been peer-reviewed and may undergo updates or modifications. Users are advised to thoroughly test the scripts and verify their accuracy for their specific use cases.