We investigated the effect of 2 months of exposure to cold conditions (0-5 C) on capillarization and on fiber size, distribution and ultrastructure in the pectoralis muscle of nine pigeons (Columbia livia; mean body mass 700 31 g) and compared the results with measurements from four control birds (mean mass 715 42 g) kept at normal ambient temperature (22-23 C) for the same period. Superficial ...

The time course of angiogenesis during hypertrophy of the rat plantaris muscle was studied by using a unilateral, synergistic ablation model. Animals (n = 6/group) were euthanized 2, 5, 7, 15, 21, and 30 days postmyectomy. Sections from both the hypertrophied and contralateral muscles were simultaneously stained for capillaries and muscle fiber type. Mean fiber cross-sectional area (FA) and var...

Intramuscular signaling and glucose transport mechanisms contribute to improvements in insulin sensitivity after aerobic exercise training. This study tested the hypothesis that increases in skeletal muscle capillary density (CD) also contribute to exercise-induced improvements in whole-body insulin sensitivity (insulin-stimulated glucose uptake per unit plasma insulin [M/I]) independent of oth...