Muscle regeneration induced by snake venom. A histological and histochemical study.

This report describes the regeneration pattern of anterior tibial muscle of the rat after the inoculation of the snake venom of Bothrops jararacussu. The results show that this regeneration pattern is rather similar to the pattern described in other experimental models. Three days after the injection, three differentiated areas are established: a peripheric one of surviving fibres, a second one called myogenic area, and the last one, more internal, made of necrotic fibres that are phagocytized by macrophages. The surface of the surviving muscle fibres has myoblasts sticking to it and five days after, the myogenic area is occupied by many of them. Both the previous phagocytosis and the myoblasts came from the area of current uninjured fibres. After 30 and 60 days the regeneration is completed and there are only a few marks that show that the regeneration has taken place.