title: Differences in capillary architecture, hemodynamics, and angiogenic factors in rat slow and fast plantarflexor muscles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The capillary architecture in skeletal muscles is unique in that it has anastomoses that interconnect individual capillaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used new techniques to measure velocity of red blood cells (V(RBC) ) in both capillaries and anastomoses in situ. The volume of capillaries/anastomoses was determined, and the levels of several angiogenic regulators were compared between the soleus and the superficial gastrocnemius (LG(sup) ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The V(RBC) in both capillaries and anastomoses was slower in soleus than in LG(sup) . The numbers of capillaries and anastomoses were higher, diameter of capillaries smaller, and tortuosity greater in soleus than in LG(sup) . Consequently, the capillary/anastomoses volume was larger in soleus than in LG(sup) . Furthermore, several angiogenic regulators (HIF-1α, VEGF, Flt-1, KDR, angiopoietin-1 and -2, and Tie-2) were higher in soleus than in LG(sup) .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differences in microvascular architecture, V(RBC) , and levels of angiogenic regulators between soleus and LG(sup) reflect the greater oxygen demands of the highly active soleus muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 7-10-2 Tomogaoka, Suma-Ku, Kobe 654-0142, Japan. fujino@phoenix.kobe-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hidemi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujino
authors.forename: Hiroyo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nagatomo
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Roland R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001163:Arteriovenous Anastomosis / Q000502:physiology; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002196:Capillaries / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; C497444:Hif1a protein, rat