Table 5.
Histological changes in the gastrocnemius muscle induced by regular exercise training in rats supplemented with vitamin C and silymarin.
| Group | Hypertrophy | Polygonal Fiber Shape | Striated Appearance | Endomysium | Epimysium | Perimysium | Vascularization | Splitting | Inflammation | Lipid Content | Cyanophile Sarcoplasm | Satellite Cells | White Fibers | Red Fibers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CON | 0 | 0 | ++ | ++ | +++ | ++ | + | 0 a + | 0 | ++ | 0 | 0 a + | + | +++ |
| ET | +++ | +++ | +++ | + | ++ | ++ | +++ | ++++ | 0 a + | + | ++ | 0 a + | + | +++ |
| ET+ VC | ++++ | +++ | +++ | 0 | + | ++ | +++ | ++ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +++ | + |
| ET + SM | ++++ | ++++ | ++++ | 0 | + | ++ | +++ | + | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 a + | ++ | +++ |
Criteria: 0 = Null (no presence/appearance). + = Low (minimal presence/appearance). ++ = Moderate (intermediate presence/appearance). +++ = High (important presence/appearance). ++++ = Very high (remarkable presence/appearance).