Time dependence of dipyridamole-induced increase in skeletal muscle capillarization.
40 young Sprague-Dawley rats in groups of 10 were subjected to treatment with dipyridamole for 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Another 40 sham-treated rats served as controls. The medial portion of the quadriceps femoris muscle was evaluated for total capillarization, fiber area and fiber type composition. Capillary/fiber ratio and mean number of capillaries in contact with each fiber were significantly increased in the rats treated with dipyridamole for 2 weeks and longer. The capillary density, however, did not increase until after 4 weeks of dipyridamole treatment. The fiber area increased gradually with age and was significantly enlarged by dipyridamole treatment after 2 and 4 weeks. All fibers in the examined muscles were of the low oxidative (white) type and no change was recorded in this respect after dipyridamole treatment.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects*; D004176:Dipyridamole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
D004176:Dipyridamole