Skeletal muscle responses to lower limb suspension in humans.

Eight subjects participated in a 6-wk unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS) study to determine the influence of reduced weight bearing on human skeletal muscle morphology. The right shoe was outfitted with a platform sole that prevented the left foot from bearing weight while walking with crutches, yet it allowed freedom of movement about the ankle, knee, and hip. Magnetic resonance images pre- and post-ULLS showed that thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) decreased (P less than 0.05) 12% in the suspended left lower limb, whereas right thigh muscle CSA did not change. Likewise, magnetic resonance images collected post-ULLS showed that muscle CSA was 14% smaller (P less than 0.05) in the left than in the right leg. The decrease in muscle CSA of the thigh was due to a twofold greater response of the knee extensors (-16%, P less than 0.05) than knee flexors (-7%, P less than 0.05). The rectus femoris muscle of the knee extensors showed no change in CSA, whereas the three vastus muscles showed similar decreases of approximately 16% (P less than 0.05). The apparent atrophy in the leg was due mainly to reductions in CSA of the soleus (-17%) and gastrocnemius muscles (-26%). Biopsies of the left vastus lateralis pre- and post-ULLS showed a 14% decrease (P less than 0.05) in average fiber CSA. The decrease was evident in both type I (-12%) and II (-15%) fibers. The number of capillaries surrounding the different fiber types was unchanged after ULLS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

An experimental model for the study of exercise-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy.

A procedure for training laboratory cats to perform weight-lifting exercise has been developed. This program consists of operantly conditioning adult cats to move a bar a specific distance with their right forelimb to receive a food reward. Weights attached to the bar via a pully are lifted as the bar is moved. The cat is then exercised at the same load for 5 days before the weight is increased. A linear potentiometer, attached to the hinged bar, produces an analog voltage proportional to the bar movement. This voltage is then monitored by a general purpose computer using a real-time behavioral program. In this way, the numbber of times the cat moves the bar, the time required to move the bar, and the time between bar movements are all recorded. The total physical work accomplished and the average power expended by the cat during the weight-lifting exercise regimen can then be calculated. This procedure has the advantage of inducing significant gross muscle hypertrophy (from 7 to 34%) and muscle fiber hypertrophy in one limb, while the muscles of the opposite limb can be utilized for comparative studies. The striking morphological and histochemical transformations that occur during physiological hypertrophy are now available for experimental investigation using this model.     

Conversion of rat muscle fiber types. A time course study

Rats were used in this study to determine the time course of conversion of muscle fiber types. The right or left gastrocnemius muscle was removed thereby causing an overload on the ipsilateral soleus and plantaris muscles. The contralateral limb served as a control. The type II to type I fiber conversion was followed histochemically in the soleus and plantaris muscles for one to six weeks following surgery. Muscle sections were stained for myofibrillar actomyosin ATPase and NADH tetrazolium reductase. The type I population in the soleus muscle was 99.3% six weeks after synergist removal. The plantaris muscle underwent a two fold increase in the percentage of type I fibers after six weeks. Transitional fibers were prominent in the plantaris muscle and reached their peak at 4% (P less than 0.05) of the total population, four weeks after surgery.     

Influence of age on sperm production and testicular weights in men

Age-related changes in daily sperm production (DSP) and testicular weights were investigated in paired testes from 89 men aged 21-50 years and 43 men aged 51-80 years. For both DSP/testis and DSP/g parenchyma, remarkably large standard deviations exceeded 50% of mean values. However, DSP/g and DSP/testis for both right and left testes were approximately 30% higher in the younger than in the older group (P less than 0.01) and were negatively correlated with age (P less than 0.01) when data from both groups were pooled. Weights of whole testes and of testicular parenchyma were similar in both age groups and were not significantly correlated with age. However, testicular tunic weights were 29% higher in the older group (P less than 0.001) and were positively correlated with age (P less than 0.001). Both testicular tunic weight and the % of total testis occupied by tunic were negatively correlated with DSP/g (P less than 0.01); these correlations were weakened by removing the effect of age. Although total testicular weight and testicular parenchymal weight did not change with age, these values were about 10% lower on the left than on the right (P less than 0.001). In addition to its increase with age, testicular tunic weight was about 8% greater for right than for left testes in all men (P less than 0.001). Although the average size of the testis varied from right to left, DSP/g was similar in paired testes (P = 0.15), and the correlation between right and left DSP/g was high (rho = +0.89, P less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Changes in muscle fiber populations and muscle enzyme activities in the primiparous lactating sow

An experiment involving 12 primiparous Large White sows was conducted to investigate changes in contractile and metabolic characteristics of skeletal muscle during the first 3 weeks of lactation. The sows lost 19.7 +/- 6.6 kg of body weight. No change in DNA concentration was observed in the longissimus dorsi (LD), a fast-twitch glycolytic muscle, and the trapezius (T), a mainly slow-twitch oxidative muscle during lactation. The percentage of type I fibers increased (P less than 0.05) in LD, but not in T. The muscle fiber cross sectional area (CSA) of IIB fibers, which represents about 78% of the total number of LD fibers, decreased by 18% (P less than 0.01) by lactation; the CSAs of I and IIA fibers were not significantly affected. Marker enzyme activities for oxidative and glycolytic metabolisms decreased in both muscles during lactation. The decrease in oxidative enzyme activities was particularly dramatic in T (P less than 0.001). No significant relationship was observed between sow weight loss and changes in muscle fiber CSA or enzyme activities. The extent to which the results could be related to a negative nutritional balance or to changes in hormonal status is discussed.     

Inequality in function of the right and left ovaries and uterine horns of the mouse

Inequality in function of the left and right ovaries and uterine horns of mice was evaluated in three separate experiments. In Exp. 1, the effect of position in the reproductive tract on various reproductive characteristics was evaluated in 158 pregnant hybrid mice. Ovulation rate, number of fetuses, total fetal weight and total placental weight were higher (P less than 0.05) on the right than the left on Day 18 of pregnancy (vaginal plug = Day 1). In Exp. 2, the effect of previous sham or unilateral ovariectomy (right or left) in mated Swiss-Webster mice was compared with unoperated mated controls (N = 17-24/treatment). In control mice, ovulation rate, total fetal weight and ovarian weight were higher (P less than 0.05) on the right than left side. Surgery (sham or unilateral, ovariectomy) decreased (P less than 0.005) ovulation rates, number of fetuses, ovarian weights, total fetal weight and total placental weight on Day 18 of pregnancy. Unilateral ovariectomy decreased (P less than 0.05) ovulation rates and ovarian weights more than did sham operation. Ovulation rates were higher (P less than 0.01) when the left ovary was manipulated or removed rather than the right ovary. For Exp. 3, pairs of 8 hybrid mouse embryos each (morulae and blastocysts) were surgically transferred to the left and right uterine horns of the same (bilateral, N = 15) or different (unilateral, N = 28) Swiss-Webster recipients. In almost all incidences, embryo survival (to Day 18 of pregnancy) was twice as high (P less than 0.05) in right than left uterine horns. We conclude that the left and right ovaries and uterine horns are not equal in function in Swiss-Webster and a hybrid strain of mice.     

Evidence of fibre hyperplasia in human skeletal muscles from healthy young men? A left-right comparison of the fibre number in whole anterior tibialis muscles

Cross-sections (thickness 10 microns) of whole autopsied left and right anterior tibialis muscles of seven young previously healthy right-handed men (mean age 23 years, range 18-32 years) were prepared for light-microscope enzyme histochemistry. Muscle cross-sectional area and total number of fibres, mean fibre size (indirectly determined) and proportion of the different fibre types (type 1 and type 2 on basis of myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase characteristics), in each muscle cross-section were determined. The analysis showed that the cross-sectional area of the left muscle was significantly larger (P less than 0.05), and the total number of fibres was significantly higher (P less than 0.05), than for the corresponding right muscle. There was no significant difference for the mean fibre size or the proportion of the two fibre types. The results imply that long-term asymmetrical low-level daily demands on muscles of the left and the right lower leg in right-handed individuals provide enough stimuli to induce an enlargement of the muscles on the left side, and that this enlargement is due to an increase in the number of muscle fibres (fibre hyperplasia). Calculations based on the data also explain why the underlying process of hyperplasia is difficult, or even impossible, to detect in standard muscle biopsies.     

Changes in total fiber numbers of disused soleus muscle on rats

In this study, by use of technique that was modified from Morey method, we discussed the histological influence on the soleus muscle of the rats caused by disuse. This study is characterized by the calculating of total numbers of muscle fibers. ST (slow-twitch) and FT (fast-twitch) fibers in total muscular cross-sectional area were classified by their difference in intensity of staining of actomyosin adenosinetriphosphatase (myosin ATPase). During the experiment, average fiber diameter of ST and FT fibers declined when compared to control group (p less than 0.01). A 54% decrease in the total number of ST fibers was observed in the experimental group (p less than 0.01). Conversely, the total number of FT fibers increased to 362% of the control value (p less than 0.01). These results of the changes evoked in ST and FT fibers indicate 34% decrease in total muscular cross-sectional area, and showed that muscular function shifted toward a faster muscle in disused soleus muscle.     

Neuromuscular and hormonal adaptations in athletes to strength training in two years

Neuromuscular and hormonal adaptations to prolonged strength training were investigated in nine elite weight lifters. The average increases occurred over the 2-yr follow-up period in the maximal neural activation (integrated electromyogram, IEMG; 4.2%, P = NS), maximal isometric leg-extension force (4.9%, P = NS), averaged concentric power index (4.1%, P = NS), total weight-lifting result (2.8%, P less than 0.05), and total mean fiber area (5.9%, P = NS) of the vastus lateralis muscle, respectively. The training period resulted in increases in the concentrations of serum testosterone from 19.8 +/- 5.3 to 25.1 +/- 5.2 nmol/l (P less than 0.05), luteinizing hormone (LH) from 8.6 +/- 0.8 to 9.1 +/- 0.8 U/l (P less than 0.05), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from 4.2 +/- 2.0 to 5.3 +/- 2.3 U/l (P less than 0.01), and testosterone-to-serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) ratio (P less than 0.05). The annual mean value of the second follow-up year for the serum testosterone-to-SHBG ratio correlated significantly (r = 0.84, P less than 0.01) with the individual changes during the 2nd yr in the averaged concentric power. The present results suggest that prolonged intensive strength training in elite athletes may influence the pituitary and possibly hypothalamic levels, leading to increased serum levels of testosterone. This may create more optimal conditions to utilize more intensive training leading to increased strength development.     

Mechanical function of hyoid muscles during spontaneous breathing in cats

We assessed the mechanical behavior of the geniohyoid and sternohyoid muscles during spontaneous breathing using sonomicrometry in anesthetized cats. When the animals breathed O2, the hyoid muscles either became longer or did not change length (but never shortened) during inspiration. During progressive hyperoxic hypercapnia, transient increases in geniohyoid muscle inspiratory lengthening occurred in many animals; however, at high PCO2 the geniohyoid invariably shortened during inspiration (mean 4.9% of resting length at the end of CO2 rebreathing; P less than 0.001). The PCO2 at which geniohyoid inspiratory lengthening changed to inspiratory shortening was significantly higher than the CO2 threshold for the onset of geniohyoid electrical activity (P less than 0.01). For the sternohyoid muscle, hypercapnia caused inspiratory lengthening in 13 of 17 cats and inspiratory shortening in 4 of 17 cats; on average the sternohyoid lengthened by 1.6% of resting length at the end of CO2 rebreathing (P less than 0.01). Sternohyoid lengthening occurred in spite of this muscle being electrically active. These results suggest that the relationship between hyoid muscle electrical activity and respiratory changes in length is very complex, so that the presence of hyoid muscle electrical activity does not necessarily indicate muscle shortening, and among the geniohyoid and sternohyoid muscles, the geniohyoid has a primary role as a hypopharyngeal dilator in the spontaneously breathing cat, with the sternohyoid muscle acting in an accessory capacity.     

EMG, muscle fibre and force production characteristics during a 1 year training period in elite weight-lifters

The effects of a 1 year training period on 13 elite weight-lifters were investigated by periodical tests of electromyographic, muscle fibre and force production characteristics. A statistically non-significant increase of 3.5% in maximal isometric strength of the leg extensors, from 4841 +/- 1104 to 5010 +/- 1012 N, occurred over the year. Individual changes in the high force portions of the force-velocity curve correlated (p less than 0.05-0.01) with changes in weight-lifting performance. Training months 5-8 were characterized by the lowest average training intensity (77.1 +/- 2.0%), and this resulted in a significant (p less than 0.05) decrease in maximal neural activation (IEMG) of the muscles, while the last four month period, with only a slightly higher average training intensity (79.1 +/- 3.0%), led to a significant (p less than 0.01) increase in maximum IEMG. Individual increases in training intensity between these two training periods correlated with individual increases both in muscular strength (p less than 0.05) and in the weight lifted in the clean & jerk (p less than 0.05). A non-significant increase of 3.9% in total mean muscle fibre area occurred over the year. The present findings demonstrate the limited potential for strength development in elite strength athletes, and suggest that the magnitudes and time courses of neural and hypertrophic adaptations in the neuromuscular system during their training may differ from those reported for previously untrained subjects. The findings additionally indicate the importance of training intensity for modifying training responses in elite strength athletes.     

Thyroxine-induced cardiomegaly in rats of different age

In the present study the effect of thyroxine treatment on the development of cardiomegaly was compared in young (10-day-old) and adult (12-week-old) rats. L-thyroxine was administered subcutaneously in a dose of 1 mg per kg b.w. for 5 days. In young thyroxine-treated rats the heart weight increased by 79% in comparison with the control rats. The number of blood capillaries and muscle fibres per mm2 remained unchanged. The concentration of hydroxyproline was even lower than in control animals. The number of 3H-thymidine-labelled muscle cell nuclei was significantly higher both in the left and right ventricles of thyroxine treated rats. The density of capillaries and muscle fibres was significantly lower in adult rats than in the group of young animals. In adult thyroxine-treated animals the heart weight was higher by 36%, the number of capillaries and muscle fibres as well as the concentration of hydroxyproline was unchanged. Thyroxine induced significant increase in the number of DNA synthesizing nuclei of muscle cells in the left ventricle while the change in the right ventricular myocardium was not statistically significant. The present data indicate that a hyperplastic response of cardiac muscle cells to thyroxine occurs in both ventricles of young rats and also in the left ventricle of adult animals.     

Expression of myostatin pro domain results in muscular transgenic mice

Myostatin, a member of the TGF-beta family, negatively regulates skeletal muscle development. Depression of myostatin activity leads to increased muscle growth and carcass lean yield. In an attempt to down-regulate myostatin, transgenic mice were produced with a ribozyme-based construct or a myostatin pro domain construct. Though the expression of the ribozyme was detected, muscle development was not altered by the ribozyme transgene. However, a dramatic muscling phenotype was observed in transgenic mice carrying the myostatin pro domain gene. Expression of the pro domain transgene at 5% of beta-actin mRNA levels resulted in a 17-30% increase in body weight (P < 0.001). The carcass weight of the transgenic mice showed a 22-44% increase compared with nontransgenic littermates at 9 weeks of age (16.05 +/- 0.67 vs. 11.16 +/- 0.28 g in males; 9.99 +/- 0.38 vs. 8.19 +/- 0.19 g in females, P < 0.001). Extreme muscling was present throughout the whole carcass of transgenic mice as hind and fore limbs and trunk weights, all increased significantly (P < 0.001). Epididymal fat pad weight, an indicator of body fat, was significantly decreased in pro domain transgenic mice (P < 0.001). Analysis of muscle morphology indicated that cross-sectional areas of fast-glycolytic fibers (gastrocnemius) and fast-oxidative glycolytic fibers (tibialis) were larger in pro domain transgenic mice than in their controls (P < 0.01), whereas fiber number (gastrocnemius) was not different (P > 0.05). Thus, the muscular phenotype is attributable to myofiber hypertrophy rather than hyperplasia. The results of this study suggest that the over-expression of myostatin pro domain may provide an alternative to myostatin knockouts as a means of increasing muscle mass in other mammals.     

Hypertrophy without increased isometric strength after weight training

Eight men (20-23 years) weight trained 3 days.week-1 for 19 weeks. Training sessions consisted of six sets of a leg press exercise (simultaneous hip and knee extension and ankle plantar flexion) on a weight machine, the last three sets with the heaviest weight that could be used for 7-20 repetitions. In comparison to a control group (n = 6) only the trained group increased (P less than 0.01) weight lifting performance (heaviest weight lifted for one repetition, 29%), and left and right knee extensor cross-sectional area (CAT scanning and computerized planimetry, 11%, P less than 0.05). In contrast, training caused no increase in maximal voluntary isometric knee extension strength, electrically evoked knee extensor peak twitch torque, and knee extensor motor unit activation (interpolated twitch method). These data indicate that a moderate but significant amount of hypertrophy induced by weight training does not necessarily increase performance in an isometric strength task different from the training task but involving the same muscle group. The failure of evoked twitch torque to increase despite hypertrophy may further indicate that moderate hypertrophy in the early stage of strength training may not necessarily cause an increase in intrinsic muscle force generating capacity.     

Diaphragmatic activity is a determinant of postnatal lung growth

To test the hypothesis that activity of respiratory muscles determines regional growth of lung parenchyma, we studied the effects of unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis on contralateral/ipsilateral lung growth in cats and piglets. Five 10- to 12-wk-old cats and five 8-wk-old piglets underwent unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis by thoracic and cervical phrenectomy, respectively. Five to seven weeks after surgery, when the cats were killed for studies of lung growth, gain in body weight was the same as in five sham-operated controls. At this time, mean pleural pressure ipsilateral to the paralyzed hemidiaphragm was the same as contralateral mean pleural pressure during tidal breathing, and values did not differ from controls. However overall functional residual capacity was lower in the phrenectomized cats (35 +/- 4 ml) than in the controls (55 +/- 11 ml, P less than 0.01). Growth of contralateral lungs relative to ipsilateral lungs was greater in the phrenectomized cats than in the controls, as shown by ratios of contralateral/ipsilateral wet lung weight (1.44 vs. 1.34, P less than 0.01), maximum inflation volume (1.53 vs. 1.33, P less than 0.05), and total protein content (1.45 vs. 1.26, P less than 0.05). Ratios of total protein to DNA and RNA to DNA were unchanged. One week after surgery in the piglets, the ratio of contralateral/ipsilateral wet lung weight was increased (1.61 vs. 1.29, P less than 0.01) and total weight of both lungs was reduced. We conclude that regional growth of lung parenchyma by cell proliferation depends in part on regional distribution of respiratory muscle activity.     

Extreme endurance training and fiber type adaptation in rat diaphragm

Extreme endurance training was used to investigate the adaptability of the rat diaphragm muscle fibers. During the final phase of the 14-wk training program, the animals were running for 240 min/day at an estimated requirement of 80% of pretraining maximal O2 consumption. Analysis of a sample of the costal diaphragm indicated that training resulted in a 34% reduction (P less than 0.05) in the percent distribution of type IIa fibers [27.7 +/- 1.1 vs. 18.3 +/- 2.6 (SE)] and a 15% increase (P less than 0.05) in the percent of type IIb fibers (40.0 +/- 1.2 vs. 46.1 +/- 2.4). No change (P greater than 0.05) was found in the distribution of the type I fibers (32.3 +/- 1.2 vs. 35.7 +/- 1.3). Oxidative potential as assessed with NADH-tetrazolium reductase and measured microphotometrically increased (P less than 0.05) by 19% in type I fibers but did not change in either the type IIa or type IIb fibers. No effect of training was found when a different oxidative marker, succinic dehydrogenase, was employed. Similarly glycolytic potential based on the activity of alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase was not affected by training. Glycogen concentration was elevated by 60% (P less than 0.01) in type I fibers and 77% (P less than 0.01) in type IIb fibers with training but was not altered (P greater than 0.05) in type IIa fibers. Reductions (P less than 0.05) in fiber area ranging from 11 to 20% were observed in all fiber types as a result of training, whereas the number of capillaries per fiber remained static.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and nitric oxide synthase distribution in the enteric plexuses of the human colon: an histochemical study and quantitative analysis

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) positive innervation patterns were immunohistochemically and statistically evaluated in the human colon. Specimens from the right colon (cecum, ascending and right transverse colon) and left colon (left transverse and descending colon) were obtained surgically, fixed either in paraformaldehyde or in Carnoy's or in Bouin's, and paraffin embedded. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, toluidine blue, cresyl violet, neuron-specific enolase, anti-VIP, and anti-NOS. The same results were obtained regardless of the fixative used. Enolase-positive, VIP-positive, and NOS-positive cells were occasionally found within the circular muscle and interpreted as neurons. VIP-positive nerve fibers were evenly distributed within the circular muscle while NOS-positive ones were lacking in its inner portion. The left colon was richer in neurons than the right colon, at both plexuses. VIP- and NOS-positive neuron densities were higher at the left than at the right colon, whereas at all colonic levels VIP-positive neuron percentages at both plexuses and NOS-positive ones at the myenteric plexus were simular. At the submucous plexus the NOS-positive neuron percentage was lower than that of the VIP-positive one. In conclusion: (a) the right colon contains a lower number of neurons and of VIP- and NOS-positive ones than the left colon, and (b) VIP- and NOS-positive fibers are differently distributed in the inner and outer portions of the circular muscle.     

Essential role of satellite cells in the growth of rat soleus muscle fibers

Effects of gravitational loading or unloading on the growth-associated increase in the cross-sectional area and length of fibers, as well as the total fiber number, in soleus muscle were studied in rats. Furthermore, the roles of satellite cells and myonuclei in growth of these properties were also investigated. The hindlimb unloading by tail suspension was performed in newborn rats from postnatal day 4 to month 3 with or without 3-mo reloading. The morphological properties were measured in whole muscle and/or single fibers sampled from tendon to tendon. Growth-associated increases of soleus weight and fiber cross-sectional area in the unloaded group were approximately 68% and 69% less than the age-matched controls. However, the increases of number and length of fibers were not influenced by unloading. Growth-related increases of the number of quiescent satellite cells and myonuclei were inhibited by unloading. And the growth-related decrease of mitotically active satellite cells, seen even in controls (20%, P > 0.05), was also stimulated (80%). The increase of myonuclei during 3-mo unloading was only 40 times vs. 92 times in controls. Inhibited increase of myonuclear number was not related to apoptosis. The size of myonuclear domain in the unloaded group was less and that of single nuclei, which was decreased by growth, was larger than controls. However, all of these parameters, inhibited by unloading, were increased toward the control levels generally by reloading. It is suggested that the satellite cell-related stimulation in response to gravitational loading plays an essential role in the cross-sectional growth of soleus muscle fibers.     

Skeletal muscle adaptations to endurance training in 60- to 70-yr-old men and women.

Previous studies of endurance exercise training in older men and women generally have found only minimal skeletal muscle adaptations to training. To evaluate the possibility that this may have been due to an inadequate training stimulus, we studied 23 healthy older (64 +/- 3 yr) men and women before and after they had trained by walking/jogging at 80% of maximal heart rate for 45 min/day 4 days/wk for 9-12 mo. This training program resulted in a 23% increase in maximal O2 consumption. Needle biopsy samples of the lateral gastrocnemius muscle were obtained before and after training and analyzed for selected histochemical and enzymatic characteristics. The percentage of type I muscle fibers did not change with training. The percentage of type IIb fibers, however, decreased from 19.1 +/- 9.1 to 15.1 +/- 8.1% (P less than 0.001), whereas the percentage of type IIa fibers increased from 22.1 +/- 7.7 to 29.6 +/- 9.1% (P less than 0.05). Training also induced increases in the cross-sectional area of both type I (12%; P less than 0.001) and type IIa fibers (10%; P less than 0.05). Capillary density increased from 257 +/- 43 capillaries/mm2 before training to 310 +/- 48 capillaries/mm2 after training (P less than 0.001) because of increases in the capillary-to-fiber ratio and in the number of capillaries in contact with each fiber. Lactate dehydrogenase activity decreased by 21% (P less than 0.001), whereas the activities of the mitochondrial enzymes succinate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, and beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase increased by 24-55% in response to training (P less than 0.001-0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Quantitative studies on the regeneration of myelinated nerve fibers. I. Variations in the number and the size of myelinated fibers in the nerves of normal rats]

The number and size of myelinated nerve fibers have been determined at standard levels in the nerve to medial head of right and left gastrocnemius muscles of 24 normal rats (11 males and 13 females). The mean values of all results were comparable on right and left sides. Thus, 271 +/- 5 myelinated nerve fibers were found in the right nerve and 272 +/- 4 in the left; their mean diameter were respectively 8.1 +/- 0.1 and 8.0 +/- 0.1 micron. There were 60.1% of large nerve fibers on the right side and 59,9% on the left, their mean diameters being 10.5 and 10.6 micron. Some variations occured in all these values, depending of the weight and sex of the animals. Nevertheless, the differences between both sides of a same rat were negligible and the histograms of both nerves could be superposed. Accordingly, in the operated animals, the contralateral nerve may be used as control.