FIBRILLATION IN SKELETAL MUSCLE IN RELATION TO DENERVATION AND TO INACTIVATION WITHOUT DENERVATION

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Abstract
To investigate the possibility that surgical isolation of the spinal cord from all ingoing nerve impulses might constitute a functional denervation of the dependent skeletal muscle such that this enters into fibrillation, the lumbo-sacral region of cord was so isolated in 2 monkeys and in addition, one sciatic nerve was cut in each. Two wks. thereafter leg muscles were exposed on the 2 sides and examined for fibrillation. Muscle still in possession of its innervation was found at rest, not fibrillating; but muscle denervated either by sciatic section, or, in 1 animal, in consequence of complete degeneration of the isolated cord segment, was found fibrillating and of a deeper red color than the muscle at rest. Atrophy developing under conditions of inactivation without denervation may properly be considered inactivation atrophy, or atrophy of disuse.

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