[Muscle-specific changes in free latissimus dorsi transplantation in the rat model]

The aim of this study is to gain further knowledge concerning the regeneration of reinnervated, freely transplanted muscles. Therefore, we used a rat model, consisting of eight rats per group, in which the latissimus dorsi muscle was transplanted orthotopically, after a period of time of two and twelve weeks harvested, then evaluated histologically and enzyme-histochemically. As controls we used a group of non-operated muscles. At date of removal, the patency of the vascular anastomoses was checked clinically and histologically. Additionally, electrophysiological measurements and conventional and enzyme-histochemical histologies were performed. Two weeks after the free neurovascular flap transplantation, the muscle was not innervated yet, histologically a dissolved pattern of type 1 and type 2 muscle fibers was found. After twelve weeks of time, the muscles were reinnervated again, muscle contraction was positive after electrical stimulation and the typical pattern of fibers was reestablished.