Motor reinnervation of a denervated muscle by using a sensory nerve: an experimental study on gluteus maximus muscle of the rat.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed at developing a new muscle reinnervation technique using a sensory nerve.


METHODS
We attempted innervation of the rat gluteus maximus muscle using the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). We placed the gluteus maximus muscle into the fibroadipose tissue in the distribution of the LFCN in 24 rats. In one group, the original innervation remained intact. In the second and third groups, the muscles were denervated, and in the third group, the proximal end of the nerve to the gluteus maximus was sutured to the distal end of the divided LFCN. We compared muscle reinnervations of the groups by using electrophysiologic evaluation of the muscle contractions, light microscope evaluation of the axonal regenerations, and scanning electron microscope evaluation of the actin-myosin structures of the muscles at the end of an elapsed waiting period.


RESULTS
At the end of electrophysiologic evaluation, the mean area of compound muscle action potentials measured in group 1 was 3.8 ms/mV; in group 2, 0.0; and in group 3 (experimental group), 0.5. Axonal regeneration was observed distal to the coaptation, and actin-myosin structures were mostly spared in group 3.


CONCLUSIONS
This study explored the feasibility of a new flap prefabrication method that aims at developing reinnervation of a denervated muscle by means of a sensory nerve. In light of histologic and electrophysiologic findings, this type of reinnervation is possible.
Sönmez
Erhan
E
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hacettepe University, Medical School, Sihhiye, 06100 Ankara, Turkey. erhans@hacettepe.edu.tr
Kayikçioğlu
Aycan Uğur
AU
Temuçin
Cağri Mesut
CM
Keçik
Abdullah
A
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005267:Femoral Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D008853:Microscopy; D023421:Models, Animal; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D016067:Nerve Transfer; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012038:Regeneration; D024744:Skeletal Muscle Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000294:innervation*
D000199:Actins; D024744:Skeletal Muscle Myosins