Effect of nerve length and temperature on the induction of action potentials in denervated slow muscle fibres of the frog.

A. Pyriformis and extensor longus digiti IV muscles of Rana temporaria were denervated by cutting the sciatic or peroneal nerve at various distances from the muscles. Slow fibres were identified by their membrane time constants, and examined for their ability to produce action potentials in response to intracellularly applied current pulses. B. The slow muscle fibres acquired the ability to generate action potentials several days after denervation. The duration of this latent period depended on the length of the peripheral nerve stump, and on the temperature at which the frogs were kept after the operation. C. At 18 degrees C the latent period increased by 0.36 days per mm of sciatic nerve stump. At 11.5 degrees C the corresponding value was 0.7 days/mm. The effect of length of the peroneal nerve was smaller than that of the sciatic nerve. D. It is suggested that the peripheral nerve stump serves as a reservoir of 'trophic' material which is transported towards the slow fibres at a rate of 2.8 mm/day (at 18 degrees C) and seems to block the formation of Na channels. The Q10 value of this transport system would be 2.7.