The mRNA levels of the jun and fos proto-oncogenes, whose products are part of the transcription regulatory complex AP1, were investigated after denervation of the lower-leg muscles of adult mice. The levels of the four transcripts studied varied in a non-coordinated manner after muscle denervation. As early as 1.5 h after sciatic nerve section, c-fos mRNA reached a maximum and then returned to basal level at 6 h, while c-jun and jun-B mRNA levels increased after 24 h and remained elevated for at least 8 days. In contrast, jun-D mRNA levels did not change after denervation. In situ hybridization experiments revealed different patterns of spatial localization of the c-jun and jun-D transcripts. Labeling of dividing cells by the thymidine analog bromo-deoxyuridine demonstrated that proliferating cells were at least 40-fold less abundant than those expressing c-jun. Thus, denervation rapidly and differentially modulates the expression of genes coding for the AP1 transcription factor subunits in differentiated muscle cells. The possibility that these proto-oncogenes might be involved in the trans-synaptic regulation of muscle-specific gene expression is discussed.