[Autotransplantation of whole muscles in reptiles].

Whole gastrocnemius muscles were autotransplanted (replanted) to tortoises testudo horsfieldi, 300-500 g in weight. The grafts were examined 2 weeks to 6 months after the transplantation. In 5 to 6 months the replanted muscles were similar in colour and form to the intact symmetrical muscles, constituting 77% of the latter in weight. Regeneration in the grafts proceeded at a slower rate than in mammals. The separation of myoblasts from the degenerating muscle fibers was intensive during the first month and continued for up to 2 months after the transplantation. Differentiation of myogenic elements into cross-striated muscle fibers and graft vascularization were recorded. Most of the grafts were characterized by a muscle type of structure at the final stage of the experiment; however, the muscle fibers diameter varied greatly.