Force and fatiguability of sprouting motor units in partially denervated rat plantaris

The contractile properties of single motor units of rat plantaris were measured in situ 7 days following muscle partial denervation, achieved by section of radicular nerve L4. Partially denervated muscles weighed less, generated weaker twitch and tetanic forces, and contained denervated fibers, as evidenced by indirect/direct stimulation force ratios less than 1. Fast motor units (over 90% of unit pool) showed elevated twitch and tetanic responses (222% and 171% of controls, respectively) and elevated twitch-to-tetanic force ratios. Although partial denervation did not alter the mean fatiguability of fast motor units, fewer proportions of units remained in the extreme categories of fatigue resistance, with a clustering of units in the intermediate ranges. Slow units, while showing elevated twitch and tetanic responses, did not change in fatiguability. Glycogen depletion of the fibers of two fast motor units in partially denervated muscles revealed the presence of fibers varying in size, and in staining intensities for succinate dehydrogenase and ATPase, within the same motor unit, as a result of motoneurone sprouting.