Reinnervation of the soleus muscle by its own or by an alien nerve

The rates of reinnervation of the rat soleus muscle by its own or an alien nerve were compared using physiological and morphological criteria. The muscle's own nerve was more effective than the alien nerve in establishing functional connections with the original endplates. The relative ineffectiveness of the alien nerve during early stages of reinnervation was more apparent using physiological rather than morphological criteria. Five to six weeks after nerve injury there was no longer any difference between the muscles supplied by either nerve.