The structure of pigeon muscle and its changes due to tenotomy

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The tendon of the pigeon's biventer cervicis was sectioned, and the muscle examined histologically after varying post‐operative intervals. Tissues were prepared by routine histological procedures and stained in a number of ways. The results indicate that the fast fibers of the muscle have a faster onset of atrophy than do the slow fibers, but the slow fibers attain the same degree of atrophy in later stages. The onset of atrophic activity is characterized by a swelling of the nuclei and their migration away from the subsarcolemmal position in the twitch fibers. Slow fibers do not show any histological changes at this early stage (6 days). Vacuolization and lipomatosis begin at this stage, as well as some phagocytosis. These characteristics become more prominent as the tenotomy period increases, and connective tissue formation within the fibers can be seen, as well as ring fiber formation and other pathological conditions. The tenotomized muscles demonstrate conditions typical of various human muscle diseases, but differences are noted, and discussed.