Malathi S, Batmanabane M
Acta Morphol Neerl Scand. 1983 Sep;21(3):185-98.
Immobilization of a hind limb of the cat in the resting position was found to result in morphological changes in the nerve supplying the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle. A reduction in the diameter of the larger myelinated fibres (greater than 12 micrometers) concomitant with a reduction in the mean fibre diameter of the nerve were observed. This reduction in the mean fibre diameter of the nerve was found to be directly proportional to the period of immobilization. Prolonged immobilization beyond 8 weeks, resulted in the splitting of the myelin lamellae, formation of myelin rings and figures in some of the larger axons in addition to an abundant increase in collagen. These structural changes indicate a definite neural involvement in the disuse atrophy of the muscle as a result of immobilization extending for a period of 8 weeks and above.
研究发现，将猫的后肢固定在休息位置会导致腓肠肌内侧头神经发生形态学变化。观察到较大的有髓纤维（直径大于12微米）直径减小，同时神经的平均纤维直径也减小。神经平均纤维直径的减小与固定时间成正比。固定超过8周会导致髓鞘板层分裂，一些较大轴突中形成髓鞘环和图形，此外胶原蛋白大量增加。这些结构变化表明，由于固定持续8周及以上导致的肌肉废用性萎缩中存在明确的神经参与。
