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Updated: Sep 2, 2026
A Murine Model of Muscle Training by Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
Published on: May 9, 2012
[Experimental study of morphology and electrophysiology on denervated skeletal muscle]
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, P. R. China 200233.
Objective:
In order to provide the scientific basis to find out a practical and effective method to evaluate the degree of muscle atrophy and a better method of prevention and treatment of skeletal muscle atrophy.
Methods:
Forty-two adult Spray-Dawley rats were used and the model of denervated gastrocnemius muscle was established by cutting off the tibial nerve. The muscle wet weight, diameter and cross section area of myocyte were measured. The motor end-plate, fibrillation potential amplitude and frequency of denervated skeletal muscle were observed.
Results:
The muscle wet weight rapidly reduced within 4 weeks. Afterwards, it maintained about 30 per cent of normal value, and the diameter and cross section area of myocyte progressively reduced. The motor end-plate slightly changed within 4 weeks, but its degeneration accelerated in 6 weeks and disappeared after 16 weeks. The fibrillation potential amplitude was maximum at 2 weeks and it progressively reduced after 12 weeks of muscle denervation. The changes of amplitude and frequency were consistent with the degeneration of end-plate.
Conclusion:
The muscle wet weight, diameter and cross section area of myocyte, fibrillation potential amplitude and frequency could be considered as the morphological and electrophysiological indexes of muscle atrophy degree. It's suggested that the repairing operation of peripheral nerve should be performed before the disappearance of motor end-plate.
