WITHDRAWN: Histological difference of Soleus Muscle fibers due to Sciatic Nerve Transection in Rats

Abstract

ABSTRACT The structural integrity and activity of the skeletal muscle fibers is dependent on their sound innervations. Degeneration and atrophy of skeletal muscle fibers occurs after denervation. The present study aimed to investigate and assess the structural changes of soleus muscle fibers after severance of sciatic nerve at different periods of time. 25 rats were used and allocated into three groups: control (N = 5), sham operation (N = 5) and the sciatic nerve transection group (n = 15). The later was further subdivided into 3 subgroups (n = 5) where tissues samples from each soleus muscles were taken for histological examination at 2, 4 and 8 weeks- after severance of the sciatic nerve. The soleus muscle of control and sham operations exhibited normal muscular pattern while at two weeks post-transection, scattered necrotic muscular areas of variable size, extensive inflammatory cell infiltration, and wide perimysium, reduction of the muscle fiber size and loss of fiber striations were seen. Reduction of the inflammatory infiltration and increased fibrous tissue formation with wide perimysium were observed at four weeks while at eight weeks post-transection, normal perimysium, loss of striations and thin muscle fibers were seen. The present study indicated that degenerative changes of muscular tissues were noticeable at two and four week’s post-transection of its motor nerve supply, with subsequent minimal improvement afterwards.