A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MUSCLE ATROPHIES CAUSED BY DENERVATION AND ACUTE INANITION

Abstract

A comparative study was made of atrophies due to acute inanition and denervation in the tibial nerves and gastrocnemi-i of albino rats. No evidence was found that prolonged acute inanition resulted in "functional denervation" of skeletal muscle. The muscles of fasting animals did not exhibit characteristics typical of denervation atrophy, such as the presence of fibrillary activity and the contracture response to acetyl choline injections. Nerve stimulation elicited the same amt. of tension relative to that from direct activation in both fasted and well nourished animals. Acute inanition was accompanied by a slight increase in the creatine conc. of muscle; whereas in denervation atrophy creatine conc. showed a decrease. The regenerating nerve fibers of fasted animals were able to make functional contacts with muscle units quite as effectively as those of well nourished animals.