Basic fibroblast growth factor increases collateral blood flow in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Hypertension Research

Background:

• Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) exhibit reduced ischemia-induced angiogenic responses.
• Collateral circulation is crucial for blood flow restoration after arterial occlusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of exogenous basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in promoting collateral circulation in hypertensive rats.
• To investigate the impact of bFGF on blood flow and blood pressure in SHR models.

Main Methods:

• Male SHR underwent femoral artery occlusion for 4 hours or 16 days, with intra-arterial infusion of vehicle or varying doses of bFGF (0.5, 5.0, 50.0 microg.kg-1.day-1).
• Maximal collateral-dependent hindlimb blood flow was measured using labeled microspheres during exercise.
• Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored pre-exercise.

Main Results:

• Femoral artery occlusion significantly reduced calf muscle blood flow by 95%.
• bFGF treatment dose-dependently increased blood flow, with significant improvements observed at all tested doses.
• High-dose bFGF (50.0 microg.kg-1.day-1) significantly reduced blood pressure by approximately 12%.

Conclusions:

• Exogenous bFGF effectively promotes collateral vessel remodeling and increases blood flow in hypertensive rats.
• bFGF may restore nitric oxide bioavailability, a key factor in arteriogenesis, potentially improving endothelial function in SHR.
• These findings suggest bFGF as a potential therapeutic agent for enhancing collateral circulation in hypertensive individuals.