Oki S, Itoh T, Desaki J, Matsuda Y, Okumura H, Shibata T
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1998 Jan;79(1):31-2. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(98)90203-9.
To examine whether there are three-dimensional changes in capillaries of rat soleus muscle during mechanical limb immobilization.
Scanning electron microscopy, with the microcorrosion cast technique, was used to examine vascular networks in immobilized Wistar rat soleus muscles from 4 to 12 weeks after limb immobilization and to compare these networks with those in the control muscle.
Immobilization of the soleus muscle was achieved by unilateral pinning of the ankle joint in full plantar flexion.
The wavelike structure of the vascular network in the control muscles changed into a straight configuration in 8- and 12-week immobilized muscles.