Consistent Neurovascular Muscle Transplantation Functional Reconstruction

PART IStudy of Relationship Between Function and Morphology after Imitating Free Muscle Transplantation by Microneurovascular AnastomosesA series of studies on the relationship between function and morphology after imitating free muscle transplantation by microneurovascular anastomoses (MAMT) is reported.MATERIAL AND METHODForty-five Japan rabbits were grouped on the basis of 3×3×2 split-unit experimental design. In experimental group, the right rectus femoris muscle was used to imitate MAMT according to Frey's operating model. Two experimental control groups were designed: either the motor nerves or the patella tendon was simply severed and immediatelly sutured. There were 15 animals per group. In unit groups, the left rectus muscle was used as normal control for each animal. Post-operative 3,6,and 12 months, the following methods were used to appreciate the results : the maximum cross area of muscle and muscle mass for gross observation; the amplitude value (AP), amplitude time (APT), and nerve-muscle conduction velocity (N-MCV) for evoked potential EMG examination; the twitch tension (TwT). the maximum tetanic tension (TeT). TwT/Cm~2. TeT/Cm~2. TwT/g. TeT/g. TeT/TwT. contraction time (CT). 1/2 relaxation time (1/2RT). tetanic tension to peak time (TePT). fatigue rate (FR) and frequency-tension curve (F-T curve) for the measurement of contractile properties; succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), nicotinamide adenine denucleotide tetrazolium reductase(NADH-TR). phosphorylase (PRA). myosine adenosine triphosphatase (calcium mediated) with pre-incubation in solution of pH 4.35. 4.6. 10.2. 10.4 respectively, and glycogen periodic acid-Schiff's method (PAS) for poly-histochemical stain in series cross sections of muscle fiber; H.E. stain for routine histological examination; high voltage electromicroscope observation (HVEM). In quantitative analysis and linear correlation and regression analysis, a statistical program for linear modelling (SPLM). offered by the Department of Statistics, The Fourth Military Medical University, and self-compiled programs combined with morphomatrical method, were used to analyse the results functionally and morphologically.RESULTS1. Three months after MAMT. transplanted muscles can continue their normal development in general structure and function.2. It has been shown chronologically that, within the observation period of this experiment, all of the functional items can reach to their normal level in each unit group: there are TeT/TwT. TePT. FR, and F-T curve 3 months post-operatively(P>P.05); the items of standardized tension(TwT/Cm~2. TeT/Cm~2. TwT/g. TeT/g) and contractile time course (CT and 1/2RT) 6 months postoperatively (P>P.05); TwT and TeT 12 months postoperatively (P>P.05).3. In the measurements of contractile properties. there are good positive...