Vol 43, No 1 (2005)
Original paper
Submitted: 2011-12-19
Published online: 2011-08-19
Capillary density and capillary-to-fibre ratio in vastus lateralis muscle of untrained and trained men
J. A. Zoladz, D. Semik, B. Zawadowska, J. Majerczak, J. Karasinski, L. Kolodziejski, K. Duda, W. M. Kilarski
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2005;43(1):11-17.
Vol 43, No 1 (2005)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Submitted: 2011-12-19
Published online: 2011-08-19
Abstract
Muscle fibre profile area (Af), volume density (Vv), capillary-to-fibre ratio (CF) and number of capillaries per fibre
square millimetre (CD) were determined from needle biopsies of vastus lateralis of twenty-four male volunteers (mean ± SD:
age 25.4±5.8 years, height 178.6±5.5 cm, body mass 72.1±7.7 kg) of different training background. Seven subjects were
untrained students (group A), nine were national and sub-national level endurance athletes (group B) with the background of
7.8±2.9 years of specialised training, and eight subjects were sprint-power athletes (group C) with 12.8±8.7 years of specialised
training. Muscle biopsies of vastus lateralis were analysed histochemically for mATPase. Capillaries were visualized and
counted using CD31 antibodies against endothelial cells. There were significant differences in the Vv of type I and type II
muscle fibres in both trained groups, B (51.8%; 25.6%) and C (50.5%; 26.4%). However, in untrained group A that was treated
as a reference group, the difference between Vv of type I and type II fibres was less prominent, nevertheless statistically
significant (42.1%; 35.1%). There was also a significant difference in CF: 1.9 in group A and 2.1 in groups B and C. The
number of capillaries per mm2 (CD) was 245 (group A), 308 (group B) and 325 (group C). Significant differences (P<0.05) in
CF and CD, were found only between group A (1.9; 245) and both groups of trained men, B and C (2.1; 308 and 325). However,
endurance athletes (group B), such as long-distance runners, cyclists and cross country skiers, did not differ from the athletes
representing short term, high power output sports (group C) such as ice hockey, karate, ski-jumping, volleyball, soccer and
modern dance.
Abstract
Muscle fibre profile area (Af), volume density (Vv), capillary-to-fibre ratio (CF) and number of capillaries per fibre
square millimetre (CD) were determined from needle biopsies of vastus lateralis of twenty-four male volunteers (mean ± SD:
age 25.4±5.8 years, height 178.6±5.5 cm, body mass 72.1±7.7 kg) of different training background. Seven subjects were
untrained students (group A), nine were national and sub-national level endurance athletes (group B) with the background of
7.8±2.9 years of specialised training, and eight subjects were sprint-power athletes (group C) with 12.8±8.7 years of specialised
training. Muscle biopsies of vastus lateralis were analysed histochemically for mATPase. Capillaries were visualized and
counted using CD31 antibodies against endothelial cells. There were significant differences in the Vv of type I and type II
muscle fibres in both trained groups, B (51.8%; 25.6%) and C (50.5%; 26.4%). However, in untrained group A that was treated
as a reference group, the difference between Vv of type I and type II fibres was less prominent, nevertheless statistically
significant (42.1%; 35.1%). There was also a significant difference in CF: 1.9 in group A and 2.1 in groups B and C. The
number of capillaries per mm2 (CD) was 245 (group A), 308 (group B) and 325 (group C). Significant differences (P<0.05) in
CF and CD, were found only between group A (1.9; 245) and both groups of trained men, B and C (2.1; 308 and 325). However,
endurance athletes (group B), such as long-distance runners, cyclists and cross country skiers, did not differ from the athletes
representing short term, high power output sports (group C) such as ice hockey, karate, ski-jumping, volleyball, soccer and
modern dance.
Keywords
Training; Muscle; Capillaries; Exercise; Sport
Title
Capillary density and capillary-to-fibre ratio in vastus lateralis muscle of untrained and trained men
Journal
Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica
Issue
Vol 43, No 1 (2005)
Article type
Original paper
Pages
11-17
Published online
2011-08-19
Page views
1590
Article views/downloads
1974
Bibliographic record
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2005;43(1):11-17.
Keywords
Training
Muscle
Capillaries
Exercise
Sport
Authors
J. A. Zoladz
D. Semik
B. Zawadowska
J. Majerczak
J. Karasinski
L. Kolodziejski
K. Duda
W. M. Kilarski