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Updated: May 19, 2026
En Face Detection of Nitric Oxide and Superoxide in Endothelial Layer of Intact Arteries
Published on: February 25, 2016
Significant correlation between endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression and alveolar repair in
Hiromichi Ito1, Shonosuke Matsushita, Shigemi Ishikawa
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Science, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan. hiromi396@aol.com
Background And Purpose:
Angiogenic factors, such as endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), are thought to play an important role in the repair of pulmonary emphysema (PE); yet, the correlation of the factors involved has not been investigated. We conducted this study to clarify the positive correlation between eNOS expression and alveolar repair in PE recovery.
Methods:
We used elastase to induce PE in rats, which were divided into Groups A (Control), B (G-CSF), C (PE) and D (PE + G-CSF). G-CSF was injected for 12 days, 4 weeks after which the alveolar walls, arterioles, and angiogenic factors including eNOS were examined histopathologically and by western blotting.
Results:
In comparing Groups A, B, C, and D, the alveolar density was 2.4 ± 0.2, 2.4 ± 0.1, 1.8 ± 0.1, 2.5 ± 0.1 per 100 μm(2), respectively (C vs. others; p < 0.00001) and the number of arterioles was 4.5 ± 1.0, 5.6 ± 0.6, 3.2 ± 0.5, 5.5 ± 0.7/mm(2), respectively (C vs. others; p < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining (IHC) revealed different eNOS expression in Group D versus Group C (p < 0.0001) and western blotting revealed different eNOS, VEGF, and FLT-1 expression in Group D versus Group C (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.001), reflecting the contribution of angiogenesis to PE repair. eNOS showed a significantly positive correlation to alveolar density and arteriole repair.
Conclusion:
Alveolar repair was correlated positively with eNOS expression by vascular regeneration in elastase-induced rat PE.
