Ultrastructural changes of neuromuscular receptor organs in the masseter muscles following unilateral transection of the rat infraorbital nerve.

Definite ultrastructural changes of the neuromuscular receptor organs were demonstrated in the young and adult rat masseter muscles either on the operated or unoperated side following the unilateral transection of the infraorbital nerve. The grade of the degeneration was intensive but quite similar in having no relation to the age of the rat when the operation was performed, while it increased drastically with time after the operation. On this base, it may be suggested that the sensory input coming from the various kinds of sensory receptors in the snout field do rather affect bilaterally the minor reflexive movements of the jaw. In other words, it can be said that the minor reflexive movements of the jaw might have been controlled by the sensory inputs coming from the snout sensory receptor organs. The definitely degenerated changes of the neuromuscular receptor organs in the masseter muscles should be regarded as disuse atrophy following the interception of the snout sensory input.