Objective: 

In this study, the effects of aging on the development of muscle necrosis in male albino rats were evaluated by light microscopy.

Methods: 

The animals were divided into two groups, namely the young and the old. Each group had three rats. The young group was 4 months old, while the old group was 24 months old. The animals were kept under a 12-hour light/12-hour dark period in the laboratory. The rats were fed with normal tap water and standard rat chow. The rats were decapitated under xylazine (5–10 mg/kg)- ketamine (40–50 mg/kg) anesthesia and gastrocnemius muscles were dissected free. Muscle tissue samples were fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution and were embedded in paraffin, 5mm thick sections were taken from the muscle tissue for histological examinations and were stained with hematoxylen-eosin, periodic acid Schiff and Masson's trichrome.

Results: 

In the young group, there were no histological changes in their muscle tissue samples. On the other hand, in the aged group, some histopathological changes were determined in different degrees. In the aged group muscle fibers showed a loss of contractile proteins. There were also increased lipid tissues between muscle fibers. Increases in collagen fibers were observed in the intercellular area.

Conclusions: 

Generally our findings were degeneration, loss of contractile proteins, necrosis, increased lipid tissue and hypertrophy on the muscle tissue in the aged group.