Summary
Transection of the sternohyoid muscle of the rat has been used as an experimental situation in which the fate of the portions of fibre isolated from their nerve supply by the lesion can be studied. Sections from the muscle were stained to demonstrate oxidative and glycolytic enzymes and cholinesterase. Biopsies performed after periods of up to ten weeks after operation revealed a series of changes that suggested that after passing through the early stages of denervation atrophy recovery of the fibres took place. There was no indication that new motor end-plates were formed among the isolated fibres and it was concluded that communication had been reestablished with innervated fibres and that this reunion had been followed by a redetermination of the metabolic activity of the isolated fibres.
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I would like to thank Professor J. Z. Young for his advice and encouragement and Mrs. C. A. Joseph for her histochemical preparations.
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Hall-Craggs, E.C.B. Observations on the fate of muscle fibres temporarily isolated by transection of a muscle belly. Z. Zellforsch. 119, 68–76 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330539
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330539