Journal of Neurophysiology, Vol 39, Issue 1 84-90, Copyright © 1976 by APS
Interaction between foreign and original nerves innervating gill muscles in fish
E. Frank and J. K. Jansen
Foreign somatic motor nerves were made to innervate denervated gill muscles
of the perch. The foreign innervation remained functional after
reinnervation by the original nerve. Intracellular recordings showed that
individual muscle fibers could be activated by both foreign and original
neurons. Extensive foreign innervation appeared to inhibit the ability of
the original nerve to reinnervate its own muscle. These studies provide
evidence for a functional coexistence of appropriate and inappropriate
innervation and show that foreign synapses need not be repressed by the
"correct" nerve.
