Electrophysiological study on motor nerve implantation after ectopic transplantation of skeletal muscle in rat

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of motor nerve implantation after ectopic transplantation of skeletal muscle on nerve regeneration in rat. METHODS: Sixty Sprague-Dewley male 8-monthold rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, in situ implantation group and ectopic transplantation group. In control group, obturator nerve controlling right gracilis was cut off. In in situ implantation group, the right gracilis was cut off and replanted to its original site, and the obturator nerve was implanted to the muscle. In ectopic transplantation group, the right gracilis was cut off and transplanted to the muscle of the left leg, and the obturator nerve was implanted to the muscle. After 25 weeks, the neurophysiological information was collected through electromyography and the weight of the muscle was measured. RESULTS: The potential without control of the nerve existed in control group. There were no significant differences in latency, amplitude and conduct velocity between in situ implantation group and ectopic transplantation group (P > 0.05). The atrophy of gracilis was dominant in control group, the weight of the muscle was 158.0 +/- 19.3 mg. The weights of the muscle were 509.6 +/- 14.5 mg in ectopic transplantation group and 516.8 +/- 12.7 mg in in situ implantation group, showing no significant difference (P > 0.05). The weights of the muscle in in situ implantation and ectopic transplantation group were larger than that in control group, showing significant difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Motor nerve implantation after ectopic transplantation of skeletal muscle could prevent the atrophy of the muscle and resume partial function of nerve.