[Modifications in the type distribution of muscle fibers induced by repeated local freezings the rat sciatic nerve].

In the Rat, after a localized freezing of the sciatic nerve inducing a complete denervation of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, the reinnervation took place within 16-18 days under our experimental conditions. After only one freezing, a limited and stable "type-grouping" of muscle fibres is observed from 30 to 360 days. After 2 to 5 freezing repeated every three weeks, the muscular changes observed one month after the last freezing are much more pronounced than when only one freezing is performed. These changes consist of a progressive increase in the number of type I and type II C fibres. This transformation is not stable: 3 months after the 3rd freezing, the muscle pattern does not differ from that which is noted after a single freezing.