Anat Cell Biol.  2015 Dec;48(4):268-274. 10.5115/acb.2015.48.4.268.

Anatomical study of the nerve regeneration after selective neurectomy in the rabbit: clinical application for esthetic calf reduction

• Shin KJ
• Yoo JY
• Lee JY
• Gil YC
• Kim JN
• Koh KS
• Song WC

• KMID: 2133267
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2015.48.4.268

Abstract

The purposes of this study were therefore to characterize the degeneration and regeneration of nerves to the calf muscles after selective neurectomy, both macroscopically and microscopically, and to determine the incidence of such regeneration in a rabbit model. Seventy four New Zealand white rabbits were used. Selective neurectomy to the triceps surae muscles was performed, and the muscles were subsequently harvested and weighed 1-4 months postneurectomy. The gastrocnemius muscles were stained with Sihler's solution to enable the macroscopic observation of any nerve regeneration that may have occurred subsequent to neurectomy. The change in triceps surae muscle weight was measured along the time course of the experiment. After neurectomy, nerve degeneration was followed by regeneration in all cases. The weight of the triceps surae muscle decreased dramatically between completion of the neurectomy and 1 month postneurectomy, but increased thereafter. The nerve branches were weakly stained with Sihler's solution until 2 months postneurectomy, and then strongly stained after 3 months. The number of myelinated axons was decreased at 2 month after neurectomy compared to nonneurectomized controls, but then gradually increased thereafter. Although there are currently no reports on the incidence of recovery after calf reduction, it may be a very common occurrence in the clinical field based on our findings. The findings of this study provide fundamental anatomical and surgical information to aid planning and practice in calf-reduction surgery.

Keyword

Triceps surae muscle; Gastrocnemius muscle; Soleus muscle; Selective neurectomy; Nerve regeneration

MeSH Terms

Axons
Incidence
Muscle, Skeletal
Muscles
Myelin Sheath
Nerve Degeneration
Nerve Regeneration*
Rabbits
Regeneration

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Graph showing the changes in triceps surae muscle (TSM) weight after selective neurectomy. The TSM and TSM index (TSM weight relative to body weight [BW]) decreased dramatically between completion of neurectomy and 1 month postneurectomy, and started to increase thereafter.

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  Fig. 2 Photographs of the left gastrocnemius muscle of the control group. Branches of the tibial nerve were observed with the aid of Sihler's staining. The nerve innervation of the gastrocnemius lateral and medial heads is clearly evident in the enlarged photographs.

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  Fig. 3 Photographs of the nerve regeneration process in the experimental groups which had one-side neurectomy. The nerve branches were thinner and the nerve innervation of the muscle could not be seen after neurectomy (Sihler's stain).

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  Fig. 4 (A-E) Histological changes of the nerve branch after neurectomy. The number of myelinated axons decreased, with the spaces left being filled with connective tissue in the experimental groups. Scale bars=100 µm (A-E).

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  Fig. 5 (A-D) Fat cell invasion after neurectomy. The increase of fat tissues was shown in harvested triceps surae muscle (TSM) Sihler's stain and histological pictures of the 3 months group. Scale bar=500 µm (A-D).

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