Abstract

Introduction

Materials & Methods

Results

Discussion & Conclusion

References

Discussion
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TABLE 1. Mean arterial blood pressure (MBP), heart rate (HR), and body weight (BW) of the 3 groups of experimental animals.
             

               n       MBP         HR        BW(4wks)   BW(7wks) 
                      (mmHg)      (min-1)     (grams)    (grams)
	   
        Group 1          8         89+5        431+10     117+5

        Group 2         10        123+5*       419+10     113+5   
                                                          
        Group 3          9        118+5*       106+6      267+9+
                                                          264+9+

	
* = p<0.05 versus group 1.
+ = p<0.05 versus body weight at 4 weeks (wks).

 

TABLE 2. Central hemodynamics and regional blood flow measured in group 3 rats with microspheres.


		                ml/min           ml/min/100g
	   Cardiac output       45+10               18+5
	   Right kidney        5.3+0.3             370+22
	   Left kidney         4.9+0.3             348+24
	   Spinotrapezius    0.010+0.001           8.4+0.6
	   Cremaster
	   Control           0.035+0.008          10.7+2.4 
	   Orchidectomy      0.013+0.001*          8.4+0.5

n=9, *p<0.05 versus control.

FIGURE LEGENDS

Figure 1. The weight, area and thickness of the cremaster muscle from younger control and older unilateral orchidectomized rats. * p<0.05 versus younger control and + p<0.05 versus control side.

Figure 2. Upper panel: the total blood flow (ll/min) and blood flow per unit tissue (ml/min/100g) measured by the dual-slit technique. * p<0.05 versus younger control and + p<0.05 versus control side. Lower panel: shear rate in 1st-order arterioles (1A). There were no significant differences among the groups.

Figure 3. Dimensions of 1st-through 4th-order (1A-4A) arterioles in the resting state and after dilation with topical 10-3 M adenosine. Tone was calculated as the change in diameter from the resting to the dilated state, divided by the dilated diameter, times 100. * p<0.05 versus younger control and + p<0.05 versus control side.

Figure 4. Upper panel: the number of flowing 4th-order arterioles (4A) on each 3rd-order arteriole (3A) before and after the topical application of 10-3 M adenosine. Middle panel: the total number of 3A's in the cremaster muscle. Lower panel: the total length of the arcading network (2A's) in the cremaster muscle. * p<0.05 versus younger control and + p<0.05 versus control side.

Figure 5. Cross-sectional wall area of 1st- through 4th-order (1A-4A) arterioles in the cremaster muscle. * p<0.05 versus younger control and + p<0.05 versus control side.

Figure 6. The relation between relaxed internal diameter and cross-sectional wall area for all 4 orders of arterioles in the 3 groups. The individual values are the average for each rat. The regression line follows a third-order polynomial equation.

Figure 7. Density of 1st-through 5th-order (1A-5A) arterioles determined as length of vessels per unit volume of muscle. Vessels were perfusion-fixed in the dilated state and filled with microfil. * p<0.05 versus younger control and + p<0.05 versus control side.

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