Influence of Hindlimb-unloading on the Morphology of Nerve Endings in Soleus Muscle Spindles / 航天医学与医学工程

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate changes induced by hindlimb unloading in morphology of nerve endings in soleus muscle spindles.Method Hindlimb unloading model was simulated by tail suspension in female rats.Fast silver-staining was used to observe morphology of nerve endings of single muscle spindle in 7 d,14 d,21 d and 28 d tail-suspended and control rats.Result Nerve endings of muscle spindles in control rats were intact and clear,and there was no obvious abnormality in single soleus muscle spindle of 7 d tail-suspended rats.Slight fragmentation of nerve endings was observed in Equatorial Region of soleus muscle spindle in 14 d tail-suspended rats,while reduction in density and disruption of nerve endings were observed in soleus muscle spindle in 21 d tail-suspended rats.Serious degeneration and distortion of nerve endings were found in soleus muscle spindle in 28 d tail-suspended rats.Conclusion Hindlimb-unloading can induce time-related changes in morphology of nerve endings of muscle spindle in rats soleus muscle.