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Role of Activity in the Differentiation of Slow and Fast Muscles

Nature volume 244, pages 178–179 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

IF adult skeletal muscles are denervated the difference in twitch speed between slow and fast muscle persists1,2. This suggests that either there are inherent differences between the two types of muscle or that, once differentiated, they can only alter their contractile properties if another pattern of activity is imposed on them by cross-union of slow and fast motor nerves3 or by stimulation4. The finding that there is a difference in contractile properties already at birth5 suggests that slow and fast muscles have inherent differences. These experiments were performed to see whether slow and fast muscles can differentiate from birth in the absence of innervation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Birmingham, The Medical School, Birmingham, B15 2TJ

    M. D. BROWN

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  1. M. D. BROWN
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BROWN, M. Role of Activity in the Differentiation of Slow and Fast Muscles. Nature 244, 178–179 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/244178a0

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