The absence of dystrophic characteristics in normal muscles successfully cross-reinnervated by nerves of dystrophic genotype: Physiological and cytochemical study of crossed solei of normal and dystrophic parabiotic mice

Dystrophic mice and normal littermates were joined in parabiotic union between 20 to 23 days of age with a cross of the “fast” tibial nerve of one partner to the slow soleus muscle of the other. This preparation allowed us (a) to monitor the “neurotrophic” influences of “fast” nerves on slow muscles and (b) to assess the influence of these nerves on the expression of hereditary muscular dystrophy. Twelve parabiotic pairs examined 3 to 6 months …