['Whole-body vibration has been suggested for the prevention of muscle mass loss and muscle wasting as an attractive measure for disuse atrophy. This study examined the effects of daily intermittent whole-body vibration and weight bearing during hindlimb suspension on capillary number and muscle atrophy in rat skeletal muscles.', 'Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (CONT), hindlimb suspension (HS), HS\u2009+\u2009weight bearing (WB), and HS\u2009+\u2009whole-body vibration (VIB) (n\u2009=\u200915 each). Hindlimb suspension was applied for 2\xa0weeks in HS, HS\u2009+\u2009WB, and HS\u2009+\u2009VIB groups. During suspension, rats in HS\u2009+\u2009VIB group were placed daily on a vibrating whole-body vibration platform for 20\xa0min. In HS\u2009+\u2009WB group, suspension was interrupted for 20\xa0min/day, allowing weight bearing. Untreated rats were used as controls.', 'Soleus muscle wet weights and muscle fiber cross-sectional areas (CSA) significantly decreased in HS, HS\u2009+\u2009WB, and HS\u2009+\u2009VIB groups compared with CONT group. Both muscle weights and CSA were significantly greater in HS\u2009+\u2009WB and HS\u2009+\u2009VIB groups compared with HS group. Capillary numbers (represented by capillary-to-muscle fiber ratio) were significantly smaller in all hindlimb suspension-treated groups compared with CONT group. However, a reduction in capillary number by unloading hindlimbs was partially prevented by whole-body vibration. These findings were supported by examining mRNA for angiogenic-related factors. Expression levels of a pro-angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-A mRNA, were significantly lower in all hindlimb suspension-treated groups compared with CONT group. There were no differences among hindlimb suspension-treated groups. Expression levels of an anti-angiogenic factor, CD36 (receptor for thrombospondin-1) mRNA, were significantly higher in all hindlimb suspension-treated groups compared with CONT group. Among the hindlimb suspension-treated groups, expression of CD36 mRNA in HS\u2009+\u2009VIB group tended to be suppressed (less than half the HS group).'] Does intermittent whole-body vibration attenuate a reduction in the number of the capillaries in unloaded rat skeletal muscle?