Low-intensity ultrasound induces angiogenesis in rat hind-limb ischemia.
We investigated the effect of low-intensity ultrasound (US) on tissue blood flow and angiogenesis after limb ischemia in vivo. Rats underwent surgical ligation of the femoral or the iliac arteries. Half the animals were exposed to low-intensity US (0.05 W/cm2) during three consecutive sessions. At 3 weeks postsurgery, limb perfusion was assessed using laser Doppler and angiography. Immunostaining and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression were performed 7 d postsurgery. US irradiation significantly improved limb perfusion in both ischemic models (p = 0.04). Angiography showed increased blood vessels in the moderate ischemia (p = 0.01), but not in the severe ischemia (p = 0.19). Histology demonstrated a significantly higher number of blood vessels and proliferating cells in US-irradiated moderate and severe ischemia (p = 0.002 and p = 0.03, respectively). VEGF mRNA was significantly higher in moderate ischemia (p = 0.02). No differences in apoptotic cell death were evident in the models. Low-intensity US significantly improved tissue blood flow and angiogenesis, irrespective of the extent of the ischemia. (E-mail: ).
Barzelai
Sharon
S
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, Israel.
Sharabani-Yosef
Orna
O
Holbova
Radka
R
Castel
David
D
Walden
Raphael
R
Engelberg
Santiago
S
Scheinowitz
Mickey
M
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014465:Ultrasonics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
D000199:Actins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A