Abstract:The hypothesis that survival of motoneurons depends on targets postnatally was tested in Wistar rats of known age. Under ether anesthesia, the cut distal end of a medial gastrocnemius (MG) nerve was anchored to the lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscle to prevent reinnervation. The compound action potential (CAP) in response to stimulation of the MG nerve was recorded from L4 and L5 ventral roots to evaluate the degree of motoneuronal death in the nerve. CAPs of MG nerves were greatly reduced 1 to 8 months after t… Show more
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