title: Validation of a New Semi-Automated Technique to Evaluate Muscle Capillarization.
abstract: The method of capillary domains has often been used to study capillarization of skeletal and heart muscle. However, the conventional data processing method using a digitizing tablet is an arduous and time-consuming task. Here we compare a new semi-automated capillary domain data collection and analysis in muscle tissue with the standard capillary domain method. The capillary density (1481±59 vs. 1447±54 caps mm(-2); R2:0.99; P<0.01) and heterogeneity of capillary spacing (0.085±0.002 vs. 0.085±0.002; R2:0.95; P<0.01) were similar in both methods. The fiber cross-sectional area correlated well between the methods (R2:0.84; P<0.01) and did not differ significantly (~8% larger in the old than new method at P=0.08). The latter was likely due to differences in outlining the contours between the two methods. In conclusion, the semi-automated method gives quantitatively and qualitatively similar data as the conventional method and saves a considerable amount of time.
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Science Cognitive Motor Function Research Group, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK. s.b.ballak@vu.nl.|Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Laboratory for Myology, MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.b.ballak@vu.nl.
authors.forename: Sam B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ballak
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Science Cognitive Motor Function Research Group, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Moi H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Science Cognitive Motor Function Research Group, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Science Cognitive Motor Function Research Group, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Degens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000502:physiology*; D003625:Data Collection; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply*; D013223:Statistics as Topic
keywords: Capillarization; Capillary density; Fiber cross-sectional area; Muscle; Validation