Rat spinotrapezius muscle preparation for microscopic observation of the terminal vascular bed

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Abstract

A technique is described for preparing skeletal muscle for in vivo study of its microcirculatory bed. Rat spinotrapezius muscle is a thin, superficial back muscle which can be easily transilluminated and positioned under the microscope, and is quite suitable for the study of vessel dynamics and vascular responsiveness to drugs and other vasoactive agents.

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This investigation was supported by a Senior Investigatorship of the New York Heart Association.

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Present Address: Dept. of Human Physiology, Univ. of California School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616.

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