Effect of implantation of an extra nerve on the recovery of neuromuscular transmission from botulinum toxin.

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Abstract
The common peroneal nerve was implanted into soleus in the mouse and 2 wk later a sublethal dose of botulinum toxin injected causing a block of neuromuscular transmission at the terminals of the soleus nerve. Most muscle fibers became innervated by the common peroneal nerve. Recovery of neuromuscular transmission at the soleus nerve terminals was delayed in the common peroneal nerve implanted muscles. Stimulation of the soleus nerve after botulinum evoked subthreshold end-plate potentials (EPP) in virtually every fiber tested in unoperated muscles. In common peroneal nerve-implanted muscles stimulation of the soleus nerve failed to evoke EPP in about 40% of fibers tested and where EPP were recorded their amplitudes were generally smaller. When the common peroneal nerve was cut 2 mo. after botulinum, neuromuscular transmission at soleus nerve terminals occurred after 4 wk. When the common peroneal nerve was cut 6 mo. after botulinum, transmission was found at soleus nerve terminals within 1 wk. Recovery of transmission at soleus nerve terminals from the effects of botulinum toxin was delayed if the muscle fibers become innervated by the common peroneal nerve and a proportion of soleus nerve terminals ceased to release acetylcholine (ACh) until after the peroneal nerve was cut.