Abstract
ABSTRACT Introduction: It is generally accepted that the capillary network decreases with advancing age. The combined effect of resistance training (RT) and testosterone still needs to be elucidated. Objective: This study aimed to measure capillary profile of different skeletal muscles of middle-aged rats undergoing RT and administration of exogenous testosterone. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into five experimental groups: control with 13-month-old rats (SC), control with 16-month-old rats (SE), aged rats + anabolic agent (SA), aged rats + RT (T), and aged rats + RT + anabolic agent (TA). Results: For soleus, the SE group presented a decrease in the percentage of capillaries in comparison to SC group. SA, T, and TA groups had increased capillary volume in comparison to SC. As for the extensor digitorum longus (EDL), SA, T, and TA groups demonstrated lower capillary volume and numeric density in comparison to SC and SE. The EDL of the T and TA groups presented 70% less capillaries than soleus. The numerical and volumetric density and capillary ratio by muscle fiber were not statistically altered by any intervention. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the soleus of the SA, T and TA groups was statistically different from SC group. The soleus CSA was greater in the TA and T groups than in the SC, SE and SA groups, and the EDL CSA was greater in the TA compared to all other groups. The TA group had greater values than the SE, SA, and T groups. Conclusion: The type of intervention used did not affect any variables measured in the capillary profile. However, the use of anabolic steroid and/or RT showed a tendency to decrease the density of capillaries in the EDL.
Highlights
It is generally accepted that the capillary network decreases with advancing age
This work was performed at the Laboratory of Morphoquantitative Studies and Immunohistochemistry (LMSI) of São Judas Tadeu University
Animals were housed in boxes of polypropylene, kept under controlled environmental conditions of temperature (22 o C) and lighting (12-hour cycle of light and 12 hours dark)
Summary
It is generally accepted that the capillary network decreases with advancing age. Objective: This study aimed to measure capillary profile of different skeletal muscles of middle-aged rats undergoing RT and administration of exogenous testosterone. Results: For soleus, the SE group presented a decrease in the percentage of capillaries in comparison to SC group. As for the extensor digitorum longus (EDL), SA, T, and TA groups demonstrated lower capillary volume and numeric density in comparison to SC and SE. The EDL of the T and TA groups presented 70% less capillaries than soleus. The numerical and volumetric density and capillary ratio by muscle fiber were not statistically altered by any intervention. Some studies showed minimal reduction in the number of capillaries from muscles of elderly compared to young[1]. Middle-age measurements became necessary to understand when changes from aging process might begin
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