We investigated the extent of mechanical interaction between rat flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) and palmaris longus (PL) muscles following transfer of FCU to the distal tendons of extensor carpi radialis brevis and longus (ECRB/L) muscles. Five weeks after recovery from surgery, isometric forces exerted at the distal tendons of FCU and PL were quantified at various FCU lengths. PL was kept at a con...

Anabolic effects of androgens on skeletal muscle are well documented, but the physiological and biochemical bases of these effects are poorly understood. Skeletal muscles that differ in their androgen responsiveness can be used to examine these mechanisms. We compared androgen receptor mRNA and protein levels of the rat levator ani, a perineal skeletal muscle that depends on androgens for its n...

Free grafts were performed on the rat extensor digitorum longus muscle after no pretreatment, 14-day predenervation, or two or one preinjections of Marcaine. Numbers of surviving muscle fibers were counted in 4-day grafts, and the total number of muscle fibers was counted in 60-day grafts. Mean numbers of surviving muscle fibers in 4-day grafts were 132 for untreated muscles, 1166 for predenerv...

The regenerating levator ani muscle of the rat is known to retain its sensitivity to the effects of testosterone. To determine whether hormonal sensitivity of the regenerating muscle is purely myogenic or requires some interaction with the pudendal nerve or the local humoral environment, levator ani muscles were freely grafted in place of the soleus or extensor digitorum longus muscles in norma...