TIME-COURSE OF RECOVERY FROM NERVE INJURY IN SKELETAL-MUSCLE - ENERGY-STATE AND LOCAL CIRCULATION

This study examined the time course of recovery from nerve injury on e nergy state assessed by phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy and local circulation dynamics by fluorine-19 magnetic resonance spect roscopy in skeletal muscles of rats. The hindlimb muscles that had und ergone unilateral sciatic nerve compression for 2 wk (CN) were compare d with sham-operated (SO) muscles and with muscles that had the compre ssion removed after 2 wk and were allowed to recover for 4 wk (R4) or for 6 wk (R6). The energy state and local circulation dynamics of CN m uscles were less than those of SO muscles (P < 0.01). The energy state of R4 muscles remained at levels similar to CN muscles, whereas the l ocal circulation dynamics improved but not back to SO values. In R6 mu scles, both parameters returned to SO values. These results showed tha t the recovery processes of circulation precede those of energy state in skeletal muscles.