[Changes of level and distribution of vascular endothelial growth factor in the lungs of rats with hypoxic pulmonary hypertension].
This study was designed to elucidate whether the level and distribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are changed in the lungs of rats with hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. 13 male Wistar rats were exposed to isobaric hypoxia for 3 weeks. The pulmonary artery pressure was measured by right cardiac catheterization. The level of VEGF in pulmonary homogenate was measured by Elisa method. The distribution of VEGF in the rat lung was examined by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the pulmonary artery pressure was significantly increased after hypoxic exposure. The level of VEGF in pulmonary homogenate of rats treated with hypoxia (466.9 +/- 75.5 pg/g) were significantly increased as compared with taht of normal rats (376.2 +/- 47.1 pg/g). The contents of VEGF in the wall of pulmonary arteriole were significantly increased in rats with pulmonary hypertension. So we suggest that chronic hypoxia can strongly stimulate VEGF secretion, and VEGF may mediate the process of hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension.
Chen
W
W
Department of Internal Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Chengdu.
Cheng
D
D
Xiao
X
X
D000818:Animals; D001160:Arterioles / Q000378:metabolism; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000378:metabolism*; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications*; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors