Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 56, Issue 1 35-38, Copyright © 1984 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Muscle capillary supply and fiber type characteristics in weight and power lifters

P. A. Tesch, A. Thorsson and P. Kaiser

Muscle tissue samples were obtained from vastus lateralis muscle of elite weight/power lifters (WL/PL, n = 8), endurance athletes (EA, n = 8), and nonathletes (NA, n = 8). Histochemical stainings for myofibrillar ATPase, NADH-tetrazolium reductase, and amylase-periodic acid-Schiff, respectively, were undertaken to assess relative distribution of fast-twitch (FT) and slow-twitch (ST) muscle fiber types, fiber size, and capillary supply [capillaries per fiber (cap X fib-1) and capillaries per mm2 (cap X mm-2)]. Fiber type distribution in WL/PL, EA, and NA averaged 59 +/- 6 (SD), 40 +/- 11, and 61 +/- 10% FT. Values for mean fiber area and FT/ST area were significantly greater in WL/PL compared with values obtained in EA and NA. Similar values for cap X fib-1 were observed WL/PL (2.06 +/- 0.74) and NA (2.16 +/- 0.34). EA exhibited greater cap X fib-1 (3.11 +/- 0.73) than WL/PL (NS) and NA (P less than 0.01). However, cap X mm-2 in WL/PL (199 +/- 29) was lower than in EA (401 +/- 61, P less than 0.001) and NA (306 +/- 29, P less than 0.01). It is suggested that heavy resistance training in contrast to endurance training does not result in increased capillary density. Instead, as a consequence of fiber hypertrophy induced by muscle overloading, capillary density is decreased.

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