Decreases in corporeal vascular endothelial growth factor expression precede vasoreactivity changes in cholesterol fed rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
We determined temporal changes in vasoreactivity and angiogenic growth factor levels in corporeal tissue at varying time points after the induction of hypercholesterolemia in rabbits.


METHODS
A total of 42 New Zealand White rabbits were fed a 1% cholesterol (8 per group) or normal (6 per group) diet for 2, 4.5 or 7.5 weeks. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression in corpus cavernosum was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses for the 3 isoforms VEGF121, VEGF165 and VEGF189. Isometric tension studies were performed and dose response curves were generated to evaluate endothelial dependent and endothelial independent vasoreactivity.


RESULTS
Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed 2.2 to 2.5 and 1.5 to 2.7-fold decreases in VEGF121 and VEGF165, respectively, in the corporeal tissues of the high cholesterol group vs the normal diet group at the 2 week time point. At 2 weeks VEGF189 was unchanged but it was decreased 1.5 to 2-fold at 4.5 weeks. Acetylcholine isometric tension studies revealed no difference in mean ED50 (-log [M]) +/- SD until 7.5 weeks of high cholesterol diet (5.10 +/- 0.64 vs 3.95 +/- 1.35, p = 0.0269). The response to sodium nitroprusside was not statistically different at any time point. Endothelial cell and smooth muscle content were decreased for the high cholesterol vs normal diet at 4.5 weeks (endothelial only) and 7.5 weeks (each cell).


CONCLUSIONS
Alterations in corporeal tissue levels of VEGF occur before abnormalities in vasoreactivity. The results suggest that VEGF has a role in normal vasoreactivity in corporeal tissue and, thereby, in normal erectile function.
Xie
Donghua
D
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Durham Veterans Affairs and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Thompson
Michael A
MA
Pippen
Anne M
AM
Waters
Richard E
RE
Donatucci
Craig F
CF
Annex
Brian H
BH
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology*; D010413:Penis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000109:Acetylcholine