Objective: This study was to provide a scientific basis for clinical application of denervated muscle transplantation.
Methods: A rhesus monkey was used in this experiment. The denervated extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) and the extensor hallucis brevis (EHB) of the rhesus monkey were autotransplanted in the sacrospinal muscle, and they were biopsied at intervals and stained with HE, Bielshowsky and enzyme. The specimen were examined with light and electro-microscope.
Results: The metabolism of the denervated muscle was lower than the normal. There was muscle regeneration and growing nerve fibers in the graft 12 weeks after transplantation.
Conclusion: Denervated muscle can regenerate in oxygen-deficient environment. If the denervated muscle is in contact with normal muscle, the nerve of the recipient muscle will grow into the graft.