A comparative study of methods for demonstration and quantification of capillaries in skeletal muscle.

Histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical, and microangiographic methods were compared for the demonstration of capillaries in skeletal muscle. Microangiography visualized the arterioles and venules, but was unsuitable for the quantification of capillaries. The histological and enzyme histochemical methods gave variable staining reactions for capillaries. The most reliable and reproducible enzyme histochemical reactions were those for alkaline phosphatase (Gomori) and ATPase (after preincubation at pH = 4.2 or 4.6 or 7.2) as well as PAS staining after amylase preincubation. Among the immunohistochemical reactions, type V collagen and fibronectin were suitable for the demonstration and quantification of capillaries in skeletal muscle.