To evaluate the regenerative capacity of mdx skeletal muscle, changes in contractile properties of the fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) of normal and mdx mice were studied at 7 and 16 weeks of age, following denervation and devascularization (DD) at 4 weeks of age. At 7 weeks, DD EDL of both strains showed significantly decreased isometric twitch and tetanus tensions compared with their non-DD controls. By 16 weeks, normal operated muscle exhibited a recovery of 57% and 58% of absolute tetanus and twitch tensions while the mdx EDL recovered remarkably to 96% and 99% of 7-week values. At 7 weeks, the DD EDL of both strains exhibited significantly slower time-to-peak (lTP) and one-half relaxation time (1/2RT). By 16 weeks, TTP and 1/2RT of the mdx DD EDL no longer differed from non-DD controls, but the normal EDL showed slowed TTP. No differences were found in the maximum velocity of shortening (Vo) or in posttetanic potentiation (PTP). Following DD, there was an increase in resistance to fatigue in both strains at 7 weeks. This resistance persisted at 16 weeks in the normal mouse, but the operated mdx EDL returned to normal. It would appear that following a denervation/devascularization insult, the rndx EDL is able to recover contractile characteristics to a remarkably larger extent than normal EDL.