BACKGROUND: The denervated skeletal muscle is chiefly characteristic as the loss of neurotrophic factor, which may cause the muscle atrophy degeneration and fibrosis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect on the muscle satellite cells and muscle atrophy by the implantation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) released through silicon tube in the gastrocnemius. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Randomly control animal experiment was finished at the Animal Experiment Laboratory of Shenyang Medical College Fengtian Hospital in November 2006. MATERIALS: Twenty-eight Wistar healthy male rats (weighing 250-300 g) were adopted. Silicon tube was prepared by the encapsulation with bFGF or physiological saline, and sealed with 502 glue. METHODS: The sciatic nerve of left lower limb was cut off, and then gastrocnemius was taken out. All of 28 Wistar rats were divided into experiment group and control group randomly, each group involved 14 rats. The experimental gastrocnemius was encapsulated with silicon tube containing bFGF, while the control group with physiological saline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At day 30 postoperatively, the following indicators were evaluated: wet weight of gastrocnemius and wave amplitude of muscle fibrillation potential; proliferating cell nuclear antigen positive nuclei on surface of muscle fibers, diameter and section area of gastrocnemius fiber under light microscope; ultrastructure of gastrocnemius under electron microscope. RESULTS: The number of muscle satellite cell nuclei in the experimental group was more than that in the control group (P

ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of preventing tendon adhesion by using bFGF/ vitamin C composite biodegradable membrane.MethodsSixty Newzerland rabbits were divided into experimental and control groups randomly.After the animal model was established, the tendon autografts were encapsulated with the bFGF/vitamin C composite biodegradable membrane in experimental group, while no tendon autografts encapsulation in control.Three weeks after surgery, regular HE staining and AgNO3 staining were performed to observe the fibroblast nuclei and vitamin C.The quantity of collagen fibrils was measured by Luzex-F Image Analyzer.Eight weeks after surgery, the peritendinous adhesion and the maximum tensile load were analyzed.Results At 3 weeks after surgery, the numbers of vitamin C granules, fibroblast nuclei and collagen fibrils in the experimental group were significantly more than those in the control group(t = 11.78 ,P ＜0.001) .At 8 weeks after surgery, the peritendinous adhesion in the experimental group was significantly slighter than that in the control group(Z =3.922,P ＜0.005) ,and the maximum tensile load in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (t = 8.39, P ＜ 0.001) .ConclusionbFGF/vitamin C composite biodegradable membrane can stimulate the proliferation of fibroblasts and synthesis of collagen fibrils,improve the biomechanical property of tendon autografts and prevent the tendon adhesion.