Long-term external calcium dependence of autotransplanted and sliced extensor digitorum longus muscle contractility

Contractile responses were studied in autotransplanted and sliced extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles at different times after the surgical intervention (3 and 12 months). The contraction of autotransplanted and sliced EDL muscles remained strongly dependent upon the extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca]o) 3 and even 12 months after the intervention. It could be suggested that in autotransplanted and sliced EDL muscles, neural control could be involved in the persistent dependence of contractility toward [Ca]o.