Angiotensin II and VEGF are involved in angiogenesis induced by short-term exercise training.
Results from our laboratory have suggested a pathway involving angiotensin II type 1 (AT(1)) receptors and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in angiogenesis induced by electrical stimulation. The present study investigated if similar mechanisms underlie the angiogenesis induced by short-term exercise training. Seven days before training and throughout the training period, male Sprague-Dawley rats received either captopril or losartan in their drinking water. Rats underwent a 3-day treadmill training protocol. The tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles were harvested under anesthesia and lightly fixed in formalin (vessel density) or frozen in liquid nitrogen (VEGF expression). In controls, treadmill training resulted in a significant increase in vessel density in all muscles studied. However, the angiogenesis induced by exercise was completely blocked by either losartan or captopril. Western blot analysis showed that VEGF expression was increased in the exercised control group, and both losartan and captopril blocked this increase. The role of VEGF was directly confirmed using a VEGF-neutralizing antibody. These results confirm the role of angiotensin II and VEGF in angiogenesis induced by exercise.
Amaral
S L
SL
Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
Papanek
P E
PE
Greene
A S
AS
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002216:Captopril / Q000494:pharmacology; D002452:Cell Count; D003720:Densitometry; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D000906:Antibodies; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000804:Angiotensin II; D002216:Captopril; D019808:Losartan