Abstract
Muscle fibre composition was compared among the proximal (25%), middle (50%) and distal (75%) regions of muscle to investigate whether denervation induces region-specific changes of fibre types in the soleus and plantaris muscles of rats. Decreases in mass were observed in both muscles after denervation. In the soleus muscle, denervation increased the percentage of type I fibres with a concomitant increase in the proportion of type IIC and IIA fibres. The extent of such transformations was greater in the proximal region than the middle and distal regions. In normal plantaris muscle, the middle region showed a higher proportion of type IIA fibres with a lower percentage of type IIB fibres reciprocally than other regions. These regional differences in fibre types were not detected in the 4-week denervated plantaris muscle. These findings suggest that denervation-induced transformations from type I to type II fibres begin in the proximal region in the soleus muscle of rats. In addition, regional differences in fibre types along the muscle length could be regulated by neuromuscular activity through normal innervation in the plantaris muscle.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 17 November 1995 / Revised: 29 April 1996 / Accepted: 15 July 1996
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sakuma, K., Saitoh, A. & Katsuta, S. Denervation-induced region-specific changes in fibre types in the soleus and plantaris muscles of rats. Acta Neuropathol 93, 129–135 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004010050593
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004010050593