ULTRASTRUCTURAL AND MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF CAPILLARIES SURROUNDING REGENERATING MUSCLE-FIBERS IN RATS

A study was made of the characteristics of the capillaries surrounding regenerating muscle fibers at three different stages of their develop ment. Mepivacaine was injected in the anterior tibial muscles of Wista r rats in order to obtain muscle and capillary degeneration which was followed by muscle and capillary regeneration. Muscles were examined a t 4, 8 and 30 days post-injection. Capillaries were subjected to quant itative and qualitative examination using electron microscopy. Results showed the morphological and morphometrical variations taking place i n capillaries as the regenerative fiber matures. Changes were most evi dent in the capillaries surrounding the most immature fibers. It was c oncluded that although capillary morphology suggests that the supply o f blood to regenerative fibers may be hindered, morphometric data appe ar to indicate no such obstacle.