Regeneration of entire skeletal muscles

Abstract

There are several experimental models for producing the regeneration of entire mammalian muscles. The most commonly used are mincing and free muscle grafting. Immediately after both mincing and grafting, the muscle is completely divorced from any connections with the host. To regenerate and become functional, the muscle must become reintegrated with the body of the host. The three major reintegrative phenomena--revascularization, reinnervation, and the reestablishment of tendon connections--are discussed in the context of muscle regeneration. The functional development of regenerating muscle closely resembles the normal ontogenetic pattern. Final functional differentiation of a regenerating muscle depends on the establishment of neuromuscular synapses.