Cotter M A, Cameron N E, Barry J A, Pattullo M C
Division of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Marischal College, University of Aberdeen.
Exp Physiol. 1991 Mar;76(2):201-12. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.1991.sp003486.
Unilateral immobilization of rabbit hindlimbs was carried out for 2 weeks with an ankle angle of 90 deg. This was followed either by natural recovery for a further 2 or 4 weeks, or by chronic electrical stimulation of the soleus nerve during 2 weeks recovery using a low-frequency pattern of activation. Immobilization caused gross degeneration and functional disruption of soleus. Mean fibre area was reduced by 60% compared with unoperated controls, twitch and tetanic tensions by 90% and there was speeding of the rising phase of contraction. Natural recovery for 2 weeks had little effect; some regeneration occurred but muscle fibres remained atrophied and immature as indicated by the histochemical expression of both fast and slow myosin. Function continued to be grossly impaired, twitch and tetanic tensions were 66 and 79% reduced and the time-to-peak twitch tension 31% faster than controls. Prolonging the natural recovery period to 4 weeks increased muscle fibre area to 60% of normal, and increased the acquisition of mature staining properties but most functional characteristics remained impaired. Stimulated muscles had normal fibre areas, mature appearance and functional improvements which matched and in most cases exceeded those seen after natural recovery for 4 weeks. Thus chronic low-frequency stimulation of soleus muscles accelerates recovery of structure and function following degenerative immobilization atrophy and may represent an important therapeutic aid in patient rehabilitation.
将兔后肢单侧固定2周，踝关节角度为90度。随后，要么让其再自然恢复2周或4周，要么在2周的恢复期间，采用低频激活模式对比目鱼肌神经进行慢性电刺激。固定导致比目鱼肌严重退化和功能破坏。与未手术的对照组相比，平均纤维面积减少了60%，单收缩和强直收缩张力减少了90%，收缩上升期加快。自然恢复2周效果甚微；虽有一些再生，但肌肉纤维仍萎缩且不成熟，这可从快肌球蛋白和慢肌球蛋白的组织化学表达看出。功能仍严重受损，单收缩和强直收缩张力分别降低了66%和79%，单收缩峰值张力时间比对照组快31%。将自然恢复期延长至4周，肌肉纤维面积增加至正常的60%，成熟染色特性的获得增加，但大多数功能特性仍受损。接受刺激的肌肉纤维面积正常，外观成熟，功能改善，与自然恢复4周后的情况相当，且在大多数情况下超过了后者。因此，对比目鱼肌进行慢性低频刺激可加速退行性固定性萎缩后结构和功能的恢复，可能是患者康复中的一种重要治疗辅助手段。
