Plasticity of medial gastrocnemius motor units following cordotomy in the cat.

Experiments were performed in adult cats to determine the effects of lumbar cordotomy on synaptic potentials, motoneuron membrane electrical properties, muscle-unit contractile properties, and whole-muscle histochemical properties of a heterogeneous skeletal muscle. Medial gastrocnemius (MG) motor units were examined 1 wk to 7 mo following complete transection of the lumbar spinal cord (cordotomy). Motor units were classified on the basis of their contractile properties as type FF, FI, FR, or S (8, 68). Muscle fibers were classified as type FG, FOG, or SO on the basis of histochemical staining (59). Motoneuron electrical properties (axonal conduction velocity, action-potential amplitude, rheobase, input resistance, afterhyperpolarization), group I EPSPs, and muscle-unit contractile properties (unpotentiated and potentiated twitch, unfused and fused tetanus, fatigability) were measured. Reduced numbers of type FR motor units and increased numbers of types FI + FF motor units were found in electrophysiological experiments 2 wk to 7 mo following cordotomy. Corroborative data were obtained from histochemical studies of the same MG muscles. Electrical properties of the motoneurons of each motor-unit type were normal following cordotomy. The close correspondence between motoneuron electrical properties and muscle-unit contractile properties found in normal MG muscle (68) was preserved following cordotomy. Contractile strength of muscle units of all types was severely reduced following cordotomy; partial recovery occurred 4-7 mo following cordotomy. Cross-sectional area of muscle fibers was reduced at all times investigated (2 wk to 7 mo). In three cats, homonymous group Ia single-fiber-motoneuron EPSPs were studied 1 or 2 mo following cordotomy at spinal level L4-5 or L5. EPSP amplitude and afferent-to-motoneuron projection frequency were normal. In 12 other cats, composite heteronymous group I EPSPs were studied 2 wk to 7 mo following cordotomy at various levels. Amplitude of these EPSPs was increased, dependent upon level of cordotomy and postoperative time. Hypotheses concerning the influence of motoneurons on muscle, and of muscle on motoneurons, are presented as possible mechanisms whereby the close relation between motoneuron electrical and muscle-unit contractile properties is preserved in the face of redistributed motor-unit populations.