CHANGES OF WEIGHT AND NEUROMUSCULAR TRANSMISSION IN MUSCLES OF IMMOBILIZED JOINTS

Abstract

In cats, cast immobilization of the ankle in full extension decreases the wt. of soleus muscle and increases the weight of the tibialis anticus; in full flexion opposite results were found. Neuromuscular transmission was also studied in these muscles under nembutal anesthesia after ankle immobilization for the same period (9 to 16 days). The behavior of early stages was similar to that of the tenotomized muscles, i.e., the tension developed in the stages was different from that in the normal muscle. In the muscle of the immobilized leg, the effect of curare was weaker than in the normal one. Results of the frequencies and curare test in full extension position were similar to those of full flexion.