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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
10:11
Fundus Photography as a Convenient Tool to Study Microvascular Responses to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Epidemiological Studies
Published on: October 22, 2014
[Is arterial hypertension a microcirculation disease?].
1Service d'hypertension et des maladies vasculaires, CHRU, hôpital civil, 1, place de l'Hôpital, BP 426, 67091 Strasbourg cedex, France. Dominique.stephan@chru-strasbourg.fr
Journal Des Maladies Vasculaires
|June 19, 2007
Summary
Defective blood vessel formation (angiogenesis-arteriogenesis) may contribute to high blood pressure. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, increased growth factors stimulated new blood vessel growth, potentially raising blood pressure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Vascular Biology
- Hypertension Research
Context:
- Microvascular rarefaction is observed in hypertension models and human essential hypertension.
- Defective angiogenesis-arteriogenesis is a potential etiological factor in hypertension predisposition.
- Conflicting data exists regarding VEGF levels and birth weight's relation to blood pressure and capillary density.
Purpose:
- To investigate the role of angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in the development of hypertension.
- To explore the relationship between growth factor synthesis and neovascularization in hypertensive rats.
Summary:
- Capillary and arteriole rarefaction are linked to hypertension.
- Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) show increased angiogenesis-arteriogenesis in fibrin gel chambers compared to controls.
- Fibroblast growth factor synthesis is elevated in SHR, suggesting a role in stimulated neovascularization.
Impact:
- Findings suggest that increased synthesis of angio/arteriogenic factors may promote neovascularization.
- This neovascularization, including resistive arterioles, could elevate peripheral vascular resistance.
- Such mechanisms may contribute to the onset and maintenance of the hypertensive mechanism.
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