The effect of sympathomimetic drugs on bone capillaries

Mineral transport to bone is dependent on an adequate blood supply. Thus, the role of vasoactive agents merits orthopaedic interest. This paper outlines the morphology of osteons and capillaries in cortical bone and discusses the possible morphological effects of systemic phenylephrine on mice tibiae. The frequency of dilated capillaries on histological serial sections did not significantly change. Hence, a postcapillary mechanism is likely to explain previous EM findings: i.e., an adrenaline-induced increase of the lumen diameter and perivascular cell edema.