An overview of muscle regeneration following acute injury

Abstract

The focus of this research was to investigate the efects of acute blunt trauma, on the ultrastructural and protein content of skeletal muscles. A simple device for producing a humane and reproducible experimental model of blunt trauma to rat muscle was used. Ultrastructural events in the traumatized muscle were observed over 14 days. From 0 to 2 days after trauma there was a marked loss of muscle protein content, associated with an acute inflammatory response. From day 3 to 14 days, the muscle underwent regeneration with a rapid proliferation of sarcolemmal nuclei, activation of satelite cells, and the restoration of sarcomeres. By three days post trauma, muscle protein content decreased (35-47%) compared to muscle of control rats (p>0.05). Copyright © 2006 by the Society of Physical Therapy Science.