Polyneuronal innervation of kitten skeletal muscle

1. Isometric contractions of kitten soleus and flexor hallucis longus (FHL) muscles have been examined for evidence of polyneuronal innervation. The sum of tetanic tensions of two almost equal divisions of the ventral roots was greater than the tetanic tension elicited by stimulating both the divisions simultaneously. The difference was large in kittens aged about 3 days, was less at 2 weeks and was small or absent at 6 weeks.2. A tetanus elicited from one division of the ventral root potentiated a twitch elicited from the other root division. The time course of this potentiation was similar to that of post-tetanic potentiation induced from the same root from which the twitch was elicited.3. It is concluded that polyneuronal innervation exists in the kitten limb muscles.4. The observed degree of tension excess was less if the divisions of the root were not equal. The observations were compatible with a model which assumed a random distribution of nerve axons to the muscle fibres.