PubMed1984
The musculus soleus has been studied in 19-day-old embryos, 4-day-old and 10-day old independently hatched chickens, that are subjected to a complete dissection of their sciatic nerve on the 18th day of development. Dynamics of changes in the muscle fiber diameter (MFD) are statistically evaluated in control animals and also in the operated muscle (OM) and in the contralateral (CL) extremity of the experimental animals. In the OM, the MFD is changing step-by-step, decreasing noticeably by the end of the observations. This demonstrates an increasing atrophy of the muscle fibers (MF). In the CL of 1- and 4-day-old chickens the MF hypertrophy is revealed, the latter is connected with a natural physical loading on the CL during hatching. As demonstrated the results on dynamic changes of statistic moments of higher order (asymmetry and excess), as well as comparison ranges of the MF distribution classes participating in atrophy and hypertrophy processes, it is possible to conclude that by hatching in the muscles studied various MF groups are forming, they differ in their level of differentiation and functional properties. Taking into account the literature data, a conclusion is made that functional stabilization of the MF at the final stages of their differentiation and appearance during this period of ontogenesis certain compensatory reactions--an ability of the embryonal muscles to be subjected to hypertrophy in response to an increased loading--is performed with participation of some central regulatory mechanisms that have maturated by that time.
Adaptation, Physiological↗