Effects of tenotomy on the muscle of the turtle: a histochemical study.

Tenotomized turtle muscles exhibited some changes similar to those found in mammalian tenotomized muscles. These changes included presence of small rounded and angulated fibres with high oxidative reaction, acute necrosis of fibres with degenerative changes, perivascular cellular reaction, phagocytosis and the atrophy of all 3 types of fibres. In contrast to mammalian tenotomized muscles, no decrease in PAS positive material and phosphorylase activity was noticeable. Also, the central core fibres and nemaline rods were absent in tenotomized turtle muscles.