Rapid atrophy of mouse soleus muscles after tenotomy depends on an intact innervation.

Changes in length and mass of mouse soleus muscles have been determined during the first 14 days after division of the Achilles tendon and/or the tibial nerve. Muscle atrophy and associated histological changes were detectable 24 h after tenotomy, and increased progressively over the first week. These changes were less marked in muscles which had also been denervated, and were rapidly reversed if the tendon became reattached. An attempt is made to distinguish the role of the nerve supply from the effects of reduced longitudinal tension in the production of atrophy after tenotomy.