Recovery from central core degeneration of the tenotomized rat soleus muscle.

The soleus muscle of the rat undergoes degenerative changes after tenotomy. The effects are maximal one week postoperatively, after which follows a period of recovery. Muscle histology eventually returns to normal six week after tenotomy. Recovery is effected by means of peripheral myofibril splitting and de novo synthesis of myofibrils within the central portion of the fiber.