Differential gene expression profiling of short and long term denervated muscle

Skeletal muscle function and viability are dependent upon intact innervation. Peripheral nerve injury and muscle denervation cause muscle atrophy. Time to re-innervation is one of the most important determinants of functional outcome. While short-term denervation can result in nearly fully reversible changes in muscle mass, prolonged denervation leads to irreversible muscle impairment from profound atrophy, myocyte death and fibrosis. We …