An S.E.M. corrosion cast study on pericyte localization and role in microcirculation of skeletal muscle

The authors used the microcorrosion cast technique to study the localization and the role of pericytes in the microcirculation of skeletal muscle. Both fast twitch muscles, the tibialis anterior and the pectineus muscles, and a slow twitch one, the soleus muscle, were studied, because of morphological differences of their capillary networks. The observation of peculiar imprints on the surface of vascular casts, strategically sited in the microvascular bed, were related to the presence of pericytes apposed to the endothelial lining. The role of pericytes in equalizing the local blood flow to metabolic needs and in maintaining capillary blood flow despite pinching of vessels is discussed.