Heterogeneity in form and function of the rat extensor digitorum longus motor unit.

ABSTRACT: The motor unit comprises a variable number of muscle fibres that connect through myelinated nerve fibres to a motoneuron (MN), the central drivers of activity. At the simplest level of organisation there exist phenotypically distinct MNs that activate corresponding muscle fibre types, but within an individual motor pool there typically exists a mixed population of fast and slow firing MNs, innervating groups of Type II and Type I fibres, respectively. Characterising the heterogeneity across multiple levels of motor unit organisation is critical to understanding changes that occur in response to physiological and pathological perturbations. Through a comprehensive assessment of muscle histology and ex vivo function, mathematical modelling and neuronal tracing, we demonstrate regional hetero

SUBMITTER: Kissane RWP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8930811 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature