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Increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and capillary density in hearts of spontaneously

Jian-Wei Gu1, Lourdes A Fortepiani, Jane F Reckelhoff

  • 1Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216-4505, USA. jgu@physiology.umsmed.edu

Microcirculation (New York, N.Y. : 1994)
|February 25, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) increases in the heart, but not skeletal muscle, of hypertensive rats. This suggests VEGF may promote compensatory capillary growth in the heart during hypertension.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Chronic hypertension leads to vascular remodeling in target organs.
  • The role of VEGF in this process is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare capillary density (CD), capillary-to-fiber ratio (C/F), and VEGF mRNA expression in the heart and skeletal muscles of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive controls.
  • To investigate the potential role of VEGF in hypertension-induced vascular remodeling.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative analysis of CD and C/F in heart (left ventricle) and skeletal muscles (soleus, anterior tibialis) using lectin staining.
  • Measurement of VEGF mRNA expression via Northern blot in the same tissues.

Main Results:

  • Significantly higher VEGF mRNA expression in the left ventricle of SHR compared to WKY and SD rats.
  • Increased CD and C/F in the left ventricle of SHR, with C/F showing a greater increase than CD.
  • No significant differences in VEGF mRNA expression or vascular parameters in the soleus or anterior tibialis muscles among the groups.

Conclusions:

  • VEGF expression, CD, and C/F are elevated in the heart (left ventricle) of SHR.
  • These findings support the hypothesis that VEGF may contribute to compensatory capillary growth in the heart as a response to chronic hypertension.
Abstract

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