The effect of peripheral nerve cross-union on connections of single Ia fibers to motoneurons

Abstract

The distribution of Ia terminals to alpha-motoneurons has been investigated under conditions where a) the Ia fiber innervates a foreign muscle and b) the motor axon innervates a foreign muscle. This distribution has been assessed by examining which motoneurons develop an EPSP in response to stimulation of a single Ia afferent fiber. Cross-union of the medial gastrocnemius and lateral gastrocnemius-soleus nerves has been performed in 5--8 day old kittens and the effect of this procedure on Ia connections to alpha-motoneurons has been investigated in the adult about one year later. No rearrangement of synaptic connections has been observed under these conditions. The connections from self-unioned Ia afferents and to self-unioned motoneurons are also normal. The individual EPSP's in these motoneurons with regenerated axons have normal rise times. The findings of normal Ia connections as well as normal EPSP rise times in alpha-motoneurons with regenerated motor axons indicates reversibility of the changes seen in axotomized motoneurons.