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We evaluated the acute toxicity and histopathological effects of saponin (extracted from the plant Citrullus colocynthis) on mice in order to assess its safety. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the saponin was 200 mg/kg. The histological changes were confined to the small intestine, liver and kidney, whereas the stomach, large intestine and heart appeared normal. The changes in the small intestine included haemorrhage and erosion of the mucosa. In addition, hepatorenal damage resulted from necrosis of liver cells and renal tubules.

Intrafusal muscle fibres from bull-frog semitendinosus, iliofibularis and sartorius muscles were classified into three types using the histochemical, immunofluorescent and morphological characteristics, with reference to the extrafusal muscle fibres, which were classified into five types in accordance with Rowlerson & Spurway (1988). Immunofluorescent reactions with antibodies against slow or fast myosins obtained from anterior or posterior latissimus dorsi muscles (ALD or PLD), respectively, of chicken were used as the primary criterion. Histochemical profiles of muscle fibres were classified into nine types of myosin ATPase activity as the secondary criterion. Anti-PLD intrafusal fibres (polar zone) with ATPase profiles of moderate to high acid and alkaline stabilities correspond to large nuclear bag fibres in the classification of Diwan & Ito (1989), whereas anti-ALD fibres (polar zone) with alkaline-labile ATPase profiles correspond to medium nuclear bag fibres. On the basis of diameter, anti-PLD fibres (polar zone) with ATPase profiles of moderate to low acid stability and moderate to high alkaline stability seem to correspond to two types of small nuclear chain fibre. Variations between muscles, between intra- and extrafusal fibres and also between zones along intrafusal fibres are discussed.

Changes in the density of intramembrane particles (IMPs) of sensory nerve terminals in the bullfrog muscle spindle were correlated with recovery in the response of the spindle to stretch during postcrush reinnervation. A few IMPs on the protoplasmic (P) face in summer experiments (June to October) reappeared by the 3rd week after the nerve crush, then rapidly increased to 110% and 120% of control values 2 and 2.5 months after the crush. Afferent responses to stretch could be recorded after the mean IMP density on the P-face in terminal branches had recovered to more than 25% of the control value. The discharge rate showed a plateau pattern during the period of the excessive IMPs. This was supplanted by a normal pattern after a myelinated branch of the sensory axon was cut. The IMPs in winter experiments (November to April) reappeared by day 90 after nerve crush, and then slowly increased. The sustained responses to stretch reappeared after 5 months, when the mean IMP density on the P-face was restored to 25% or more of the control. Neither excessive density of the IMPs nor plateau pattern of the discharge rate were observed in winter experiments. The relation between the regenerated IMP densities and the functional recovery is discussed.

Muscle spindles from bullfrog semitendinosus, iliofibularis and sartorius muscles were examined with light and electron microscopy. Four types of intrafusal muscle fibre were identified according to their diameter, central nucleation and reticular zone arrangement: a large nuclear bag fibre, a medium nuclear bag fibre, and two types of small nuclear chain fibres with and without a reticular zone, respectively. It is suggested that they are comparable to the nuclear bag1, bag2 and chain fibres in mammalian muscle spindles.

Soleus muscle of adult rat is revascularized 5-8 days after sectioning the supplying blood vessels. The temporary ischaemia thus produced results in the rapid concomitant degeneration of extra- and intrafusal muscle fibres along with their nerve terminals and supplying axons. The basal lamina of all muscle fibres usually remains intact throughout the degenerative phase. Necrotic sarcoplasm is removed by phagocytic cells. Satellite cells survive the temporary ischaemia and give rise to presumptive myoblasts which fill the basal-lamina tubes. These myoblasts fuse to form myotubes which, by the 14th day after devascularization, are maturing into muscle fibres in the absence of any innervation. Within the spindle, nuclear-bag fibres degenerate more rapidly than nuclear-chain fibres. Regeneration proceeds more rapidly within the basal-lamina tubes of the original bag fibres than within those of the chain fibres. Reinnervation of regenerating extra- and intrafusal fibres begins 21 days after devascularization and is completed some 7 days later, during which time further equatorial differentiation of some reinnervated intrafusal fibres may occur. Regenerated spindles vary considerably with respect to their innervation and equatorial nucleation. Most contain short, thin, additional muscle fibres as well as those that have regenerated within the basal-lamina tubes of the original fibres.