Reaction of intact spinal motoneurones to partial denervation of the muscle.

1. The properties of soleus motoneurones of the cat were examined with intracellular electrodes about 3 weeks after partial denervation of the soleus muscle. Soleus motoneurones whose axons had been left intact were distinguished from those whose axons had been sectioned by the presence or absence of muscle contraction in response to intracellular stimulation of each motoneurone. 2. The average twitch tension of motor units evoked by intracellular stimulation of intact soleus motoneurones after partial denervation of the muscle was not significantly different from that observed in control, unoperated cats. Therefore, it was assumed that the majority of intact motoneurones had not been subject to injuries in their axons upon partial denervation. 3. Soleus motoneurones whose axons had been sectioned showed a significant increase in overshoot of action potentials and a significant decrease in resting membrane potential, in axonal conduction velocity and in the duration of after-hyperpolarization. 4. Soleus motoneurones whose axons had been left intact also showed a significantly shorter after-hyperpolarization than that seen in control, unoperated cats. Other electrophysiological properties of the intact soleus motoneurones were indistinguishable from those observed in unoperated animals. 5. The decrease of the duration of after-hyperpolarization in intact soleus motoneurones was greater in highly denervated preparations than in moderately denervated preparations. 6. The decrease of the duration of after-hyperpolarization in intact soleus motoneurones was associated with a decrease in contraction times of the innervated muscle fibres, the former preceding the latter by one to two weeks. 7. It is concluded that motoneurone properties can be modified without injury to their axons and that alterations in the properties of intact motoneurones depend upon the degree of partial denervation of the muscle. The possible signal for alterations of motoneurone properties is discussed. 8. It is also concluded that the contractile properties of muscle fibres can be modified without cross-union of the nerves. It is suggested that the contractile properties of muscle fibres may be linked to the duration of after-hyperpolarization or to some mechanism related to this factor in the innervating motoneurones.