Effects of contralateral denervation on quantal output and gross nerve terminal morphology in mouse muscles

We have studied the effect of unilateral denervation on the quantal output and gross nerve terminal morphology of the contralateral tensor fascia latae (TEL) muscle in mice. Unilateral TFL denervation was achieved by resecting spinal nerves L4 and L5. We found no significant difference, in quantal output or in the percentage of nerve terminals with sprouts, between the contralateral muscles and muscles in unoperated, age-matched control mice, at 4 days, 11-12 days or 6.5 months after denervation. This finding is in contrast to marked differences between similar experimental and control muscles after unilateral denervation reported in frogs by others.