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Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Tibial Nerve Transection - A Standardized Model for Denervation-induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in Mice
Published on: November 3, 2013
[The study on the regeneration of skeletal muscles after denervation]
Xiu-fa Tang1, Ke-qian Zhi, Yuan-ding Huang
1Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Objective:
To study the degeneration and regeneration of skeletal muscle after denervation.
Methods:
Denervation was carried out in gastrocnemius muscles in 30 adult BALB/C mice by cutting the sciatic nerve. The gastrocnemius muscles were removed at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks after denervation, respectively. Specimens were processed for histological study and immunohistochemical technique.
Results:
Muscle fiber atrophy followed by degerneration and regeneration was observed in the early period of denervation. Fusion of the regenerated muscle cells with each other followed by degeneration of the cells and growth of fibro-connective tissue were observed in the later stage. The expression of myoglobin and actin decreased in 1-4 weeks after denervation. The postive expression of the proteins was observed in some 8 weeks' cells and in many degenerated 12-14 weeks' muscle cells.
Conclusion:
Degeneration and regeneration may coexisted in the denervated muscles. The regenerated muscle cells can't fully develop due to the deficit of nerve regulation and degenerate again. The regenerated muscle cells will melt each other and can't develop to mature muscle fiber in the later stage.
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