title: Capillaries with fenestrae in the rat soleus muscle after experimental limb immobilization.
abstract: Capillaries in the rat soleus muscle were examined by electron microscopy 4 weeks after limb immobilization and compared to those in untreated muscle. Immobilized muscles showed degenerative changes such as dissolution of sarcomeres, vacuoles, and a small increase in connective tissues, including collagen fibers, around muscle fibers. Eight percent of the capillaries in these muscles were found to have fenestrae. The non-nuclear portions of the endothelial cells were extremely thin and were perforated by several fenestrae which were bridged by a single-layered diaphragm. The untreated muscles contained only continuous capillaries. These findings suggest that the occurrence of capillaries with fenestrae in the immobilized muscle may be a result of structural changes in the muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Desaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology*; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D007103:Immobilization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar