title: Biochemical changes in denervated muscle identified by magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has the potential to noninvasively delineate early biochemical changes in denervated muscle. In this study, we examine metabolic changes in denervated rat facial muscles using quantitative invitro 1H and 31P MRS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty male Wistar rats were subjected to transection of the facial nerve trunk on the left and sham exposure on the right, and allowed to recover. The animals were then reoperated at 1, 2, 4, or 8 weeks after the initial procedure. EMG of the facial muscles and facial nerve conduction studies were performed at both time points, and facial muscles were harvested from normal and control sides at the second procedure. Perchloric acid extracts of facial muscles were then prepared for analysis using MRS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a progressive time-dependent decrease in Cr, PCr, Pi, ATP, and ADP all on the transected side.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is an important step in the development of clinically relevant noninvasive methods of assessing and quantifying degeneration in nerve-muscle systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Alberta.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dort
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zochodne
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prychitko
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peeling
mesh_terms: D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis; D003401:Creatine / Q000032:analysis; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D010725:Phosphocreatine; D002857:Chromium; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D003401:Creatine