title: The effect of tenotomy and immobilisation on intramuscular connective tissue. A morphometric and microscopic study in rat calf muscles.
abstract: The effect of tenotomy and of immobilisation in lengthened and shortened positions on the intramuscular connective tissue of the calf muscles of the rat was studied morphometrically and with a scanning electron microscope. Both tenotomy and immobilisation produced a marked increase in both the endomysial and the perimysial collagen networks, with a simultaneous decrease in intramuscular capillary density. The increase in connective tissue volume was more pronounced and occurred more rapidly in the soleus, which consists mainly of type I, slow-twitch fibres than in the gastrocnemius, which is mainly of type II, fast-twitch fibres. The relative volume of connective tissue increased in parallel with the duration of immobilisation or after tenotomy. There was slightly more increase after immobilisation in a shortened rather than in a lengthened position.
authors.affiliation: University of Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Józsa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kannus
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thöring
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reffy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Järvinen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kvist
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D006614:Hindlimb; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery*