Affiliations: Institute of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ljubljana, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia | Department of Physics, J. Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Note: [] Correspondence: S. Ribarič, AFRC, Cambridge Research Station, Babraham, Cambridge CB2 4AT, UK. Fax: (44)(223) 836122
Abstract: Axonotmesis of the left sciatic nerve was performed on adult male Wistar rats. T1 values of the crushed nerve samples were determined with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Denervation changes of the dependent hind plantar flexor muscles were assessed with proton magnetic resonance imaging of their cross-sectional area and muscle force measurements. However, Tl relaxation time of the crushed nerve samples remained prolonged implying the absence of nerve regeneration. This would be in contradiction with what is known about regeneration after simple crash and the muscle force and magnetic resonance imaging measurements of the dependent plantar flexor muscles. These studies indicated that sufficient nerve regeneration had taken place to restore their muscle force and volume. A model is suggested to explain the persistence of prolonged Tl values in the presence of muscle force recovery.
