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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Morphological Sciences 2019; 36(03): 182-189
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1692209
Original Article
Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Testosterone is Key to Increase the Muscle Capillary Density of Old and Trained Rats

Walter Krause Neto
1   Department of Physical Education, Laboratory of Morphoquantitative Studies and Immunohistochemistry, Universidade São Judas Tadeu, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
Wellington de Assis Silva
1   Department of Physical Education, Laboratory of Morphoquantitative Studies and Immunohistochemistry, Universidade São Judas Tadeu, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
Amanda dos Santos da Silva
1   Department of Physical Education, Laboratory of Morphoquantitative Studies and Immunohistochemistry, Universidade São Judas Tadeu, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
Adriano Polican Ciena
2   Department of Physical Education, Laboratory of Morphology and Physical Activity, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
,
Romeu Rodrigues de Souza
1   Department of Physical Education, Laboratory of Morphoquantitative Studies and Immunohistochemistry, Universidade São Judas Tadeu, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
Patricia Oliva Carbone
1   Department of Physical Education, Laboratory of Morphoquantitative Studies and Immunohistochemistry, Universidade São Judas Tadeu, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
Carlos Alberto Anaruma
2   Department of Physical Education, Laboratory of Morphology and Physical Activity, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
,
Eliane Florencio Gama
1   Department of Physical Education, Laboratory of Morphoquantitative Studies and Immunohistochemistry, Universidade São Judas Tadeu, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Publikationsverlauf

11. März 2019

01. Mai 2019

Publikationsdatum:
06. Juni 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction It is indicated that aging reduces muscular vascularity. Thus, strategies that aim to reverse or decrease the progression of these changes are suggested. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the blood capillary density of the plantaris muscle (PL) of aged rats submitted to strength training and exogenous testosterone use.

Methods A total of 30 rats were divided equally into the following groups: EA: 20 months old; OLD: 24 months old; OLD + S: testosterone; ST: strength training; and ST + S: strength training + testosterone. Strength training was performed 3 times a week for 15 weeks. Testosterone administration was performed by the intraperitoneal method 2 times a week at a dose of 10mg/kg. All of the morphological parameters were analyzed using morphoquantitative techniques.

Results A significant increase in the capillaries numerical density of the OLD + S and ST + S groups. The OLD + S and ST + S groups demonstrated a higher ratio of capillaries per myofiber than the EA, OLD and ST groups. The OLD and ST groups had a higher ratio than the EA group. The OLD + S, ST and ST + S groups presented a statistically significant increase in the cross-sectional area in the type I fibers when compared with the EA and OLD groups. However, the ST group showed a significant increase compared with the OLD group. In type II fibers, the ST and ST + S groups showed a greater cross-sectional area than the EA group. As for the mean cross-sectional area, the ST and ST + S groups presented significantly larger areas than the other groups.

Conclusion Anabolic steroid administration is crucial to increase the blood capillary density of the plantaris muscle of old rats, independently of the effects of strength training.

Keywords

aging - blood vessels - skeletal muscle - training - steroids