Abstract
The development of blood vessels during the first three postnatal weeks was studied in the ventral stripe of the spinotrapezius muscle of the rat by use of India ink-gelatine injections, and electron microscopy. The number of terminal arterioles and collecting venules remained unchanged postnatally in the observed area. A remarkable proximodistal gradient of vascular development was apparent: while the basic structure of the hilar vessels remained unchanged in the time studied, the intramuscular arteries and veins matured gradually. More peripherally, gradual maturation of terminal and precapillary arterioles was observed. The capillary endothelium and the pericytes showed immature features, and remained unchanged during the time studied. An intense rebuilding activity was found in the endothelial cells of the growing venules, expressed by various forms of gaps, covered by an intact basal lamina and pericytes. Numerous mast cells and macrophages were found along all vessels. Intramuscular lymphatics were not present prior to the first postnatal week.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aquin L, Banchero N (1981) The cytoarchitecture and capillary supply in the muscle of growing dogs. J Anat 132:341–356
BärT (1983) Patterns of vascularization in the developing cerebral cortex. In: NugentJ, O'ConnorM (eds) Development of the vascular system (Ciba Foundation Symposium 100), Pittman, London, pp 20–32
Bizuneh M, Bohlen HG, Connors BA, Miller BG, Evan AP (1991) Vascular smooth muscle structure and juvenile growth in rat intestinal venules. Microvasc Res 42:77–90
Bogusch G (1984) Development of the vascular supply in rat skeletal muscles. Acta Anat (Basel) 120:228–233
Dalton AJ (1955) A chrome-osmium fixation for electron microscopy. Anat Rec 121:281
Gray SD (1973) Developmental changes in vascular reactivity in neonatal skeletal muscles. Bibl Anat 121:376–382
Hunter WL, Arsenault AL (1990) Endothelial cell division in metaphyseal capillaries during endochondral bone formation in rats. Anat Rec 227:351–358
Miller BG, Overhage JM, Bohlen HG, Evan AP (1985) Hypertrophy of arteriolar smooth muscle cells in the rat small intestine during maturation. Microvasc Res 29:56–69
Myrhage R, Hudlicka O (1978) Capillary growth in chronically stimulated adult skeletal muscle as studied by intravital microscopy and histological methods in rabbits and rats. Microvasc Res 16:73–90
Nehls V, Drenckhahn D (1991) Heterogeneity of microvascular pericytes for smooth muscle type alpha-actin. J Cell Biol 113:147–154
Ontell M, Dunn RF (1978) Neonatal muscle growth: a quantitative study. Am J Anat 152:539–556
Paku S, Paweletz N (1991) First steps of tumor-related angiogenesis Lab Invest 65:334–346
Rhodin JAG (1967) The ultrastructure of mammalian arterioles and precapillary sphincters. J Ultrastruct Mol Struct Res 18:181–223
Rhodin JAG (1968) The ultrastructure of mammalian venous capillaries, venules and small collecting veins. J Ultrastruct Mol Struct Res 25:452–500
Rhodin JAG (1980) Architecture of the vessel wall. In: Bohr DF, Somlyo AP, Sparks HV Jr (eds) Handbook of Physiology, Sect 2: The cardiovascular system, vol II. American Physiological Society, Bethesda, Maryland, pp 1–31
Rhodin JAG, Fujita H (1989) Capillary growth in the mesentery of normal young rats. Intravital video and electron microscope analyses. J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol 21:1–34
Ripoll E, Sillau AH, Banchero N (1979) Changes in the capillarity of skeletal muscle in the growing rat. Pflugers Arch 380:153–158
Ross R, Raines EW, Bowen-Pope DF (1986) The biology of plateletderived growth factor. Cell 46:155–169
Sarelius IH, Damon DN, Duling BR (1981) Microvascular adaptations during maturation of striated muscle. Am J Physiol 241:H317-H324
Scheller W, Welt K, Schippel G (1977) Licht-und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen zur postnatalen Entwicklung von Kapillaren im M. triceps brachii der weissen Ratte bis zum 20. Monat Verh Anat Ges 71:701–705
Schippel K, Schippel G, Welt K, Scheller W (1975) Untersuchungen zur postnatalen Differenzierung von Skelettmuskelfasern. Beitr Orthop Traumatol 22:535–537
Sillau AH, Banchero N (1977) Effect of maturation on capillary density, fiber size and composition in rat skeletal muscle. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 154:461–466
Sims DE (1991) Recent advances in pericyte biology. Implications for health and disease. Can J Cardiol 7:431–443
Sims DE, Miller FN, Donald A, Perricone MA (1990) Ultrastructure of pericytes in early stages of histamine-induced inflammation. J Morphol 206:333–342
Stingl J (1971a) Beitrag zum Studium der Ultrastruktur des terminalen Gefässbettes der Skelettmuskulatur. Acta Anat 80:355–372
Stingl J (1971b) Architectonic development of the vascular bed of rat skeletal muscles in the early postnatal period. Folia Morphol (Praha) 19:208–213
Stingl J (1978) Ultrastructure of microcirculation of the skeletal muscle. Plzen Lék Sbor [Suppl 39]: 5–41
Tilton RG, Kilo C, Williamson JR (1979) Pericyte-endothelial relationships in cardiac and skeletal muscle capillaries. Microvascul Res 18:325–335
Unthank JL, Bohlen HG (1987) Quantification of intestinal microvascular growth during maturation: techniques and observations. Circ Res 61:616–624
Welt K, Schippel K, Schippel G, Scheller W (1974) Zur Ultrastruktur von Kapillaren im Skelettmuskel der weissen Ratte vom 19. Fetaltag bis zum 2. Tag post partum. Z Mikrosk Anat Forsch 88:465–478
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stingl, J., Rhodin, J.A.G. Early postnatal growth of skeletal muscle blood vessels of the rat. Cell Tissue Res 275, 419–434 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318812
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318812