Effects of nerve cross-union on fast-twitch and slow-graded muscle fibres in the toad

Abstract

1. A method is described for resolving isometric tetanic tension developed by fast-twitch and slow-graded components of heterogeneous toad muscles. This makes use of the difference in threshold for excitation of low threshold nerve fibres which normally innervate the fast-twitch muscle fibres and high threshold nerve fibres which innervate slow-graded muscle fibres.2. The sartorius muscle contains only fast-twitch muscle fibres whereas the posterior semitendinosus (PST) contains both fast-twitch and slow-graded muscle fibres, the latter contributing 10-15% of the maximum isometric tetanic tension.3. Following surgical cross-union of nerve to sartorius and PST muscles, both the fast-twitch and slow-graded muscle fibre components of the PST are reinnervated by low threshold nerves originally innervating sartorius fast-twitch fibres, and sartorius fast-twitch muscle fibres are reinnervated by both low threshold and high threshold nerves formerly supplying the fast-twitch and slow-graded muscle fibre components of the PST.4. The characteristic mechanical responses of fast-twitch muscle fibres and slow-graded muscle fibres were not transformed up to 134 and 200 days respectively following nerve cross-union.5. PST nerve partially innervated the sartorius muscle whereas sartorius nerves completely innervated the PST muscle. Isometric tetanic tension declined markedly during repetitive indirect stimulation of cross-innervated sartorius muscles, whereas the tetanic contractions of cross-innervated PST showed a plateau of tension and resembled the response of normal muscles.6. Normal, cross-innervated and self-innervated PST muscles gave sustained contractures in the presence of acetylcholine whereas PST muscles denervated for 120 days gave phasic contractures similar to those of normal, cross-innervated and self-innervated sartorius muscles.