DIFFERENCES IN CAPILLARY SUPPLY BETWEEN HUMAN OROFACIAL, MASTICATORY AND LIMB MUSCLES

In this report we show that immunostaining of the capillary basement m embrane with an antibody directed against laminin is a useful alternat ive in detecting the capillaries in human muscle. Using this method, t he capillary supply of three embryologically, morphologically and func tionally different muscle groups, ore-facial, masticatory and limb mus cles, were analysed. Significant differences in capillarization betwee n muscles and muscle groups were found. The ore-facial and masseter mu scles showed significantly higher density of capillaries than the limb muscles, taken in consideration the muscle cross-sectional area, with the masseter having the highest capillary density ever reported for h uman sedentary skeletal muscles. Judged from the number of capillaries per muscle fibre, the limb muscles showed the best capillarization. H owever, since the three muscle groups investigated differed with respe ct to fibre diameter, our evaluation of number of capillaries per musc le fibre was related also to fibre diameter. Thus, capillary constants were created which take fibre diameter into account. Based on these n ew parameters, the ore-facial and masseter muscles were found to be re latively better supplied by capillaries than the limb muscles. These r esults suggest differences in tasks and functional activity between mu scles, and reflect a relatively higher need and demand for blood suppl y in the masticatory and ore-facial muscles than in limb muscles.