The increase of spindle cells in connective tissue of rat-muscle as related to local heat treatment.

温熱療法は筋・関節拘縮の治療法として利用されている．この局所温熱効果は臨床的に有効と思われているが，その生理学と細胞生物学の解明は不明である．そこで，温熱に対する筋肉内結合組織の紡錘形細胞数の細胞動態をラット下肢で検討した．Wistar 系ラットを通常飼育する対照群６匹と下肢骨格筋を加温する加温群６匹に分け，加温群は42℃に設定した温水浴により加温した．結果，加温群のヒラメ筋に分布する紡錘形細胞数は，対照群に比べ統計学的に有意な高値を示し，温熱処理による増加を確認した．結論として，局所加温により，筋肉内結合組織の紡錘形細胞の増加を認めた．紡錘形細胞の増加の意義は不明だが，今後，サイトカイン等の詳細な検討が必要と考えた．Heat has been used as therapy for muscle and joint contractures for some time. Although the clinical effects are well documented on contracture treated by local heat, it is not well known that the physiological effects of heat have on contracture. Therefore we studied the spindle cell of connective tissue in intra-muscle of rat\u27s leg treated with heat. Twelve Wister rats of adult male were chosen and were divided with two groups. Control group of 6 animals kept with ordinary condition of room air and treatment group of 6 animals had legs treated with a warm bath of 42°C ( 1 hour / daily ). In results, the number of spindle cells in connective tissue of soleus muscle treated with heat significantly increased statistically compared to the non-heat treated group. In conclusion, the increase of spindle cells in connective tissue of rat-muscle was related to local heat treatment. However, significance of the spindle cytosis is still unknown, we thought that cytokine detailed examination was necessary in future