[Expression of eNOS in the endothelial cells during the arteriogenesis of pig hind-limbs].
OBJECTIVE
To detect the expression and activity of eNOS during the arteriogenesis of hind-limbs of pigs.


METHODS
The right femoral artery was ligated, and the left femoral artery shamly operated under routine surgical procedures. Animals were sacrificed after two weeks. The expression and activity of eNOS in collateral vessels were studied by confocal immunofluorescence with antibodies against eNOS and phosphorylated eNOS (P-eNOS) respectively.


RESULTS
In normal small arteries, the expression of eNOS was very low, and the staining was very weak. In growing collateral vessels, the expression of eNOS was significantly up-regulated, showing very strong positive staining. The expression of P-eNOS was also high. Dural immunostaining showed that eNOS and P-eNOS were colocalized in the endothelial cells.


CONCLUSIONS
eNOS is up-regulated and activated during arteriogenesis, suggesting that eNOS can exert the possible role in mediating the proliferation of endothelial cells and the inflammation, and contribute to the collateral vessel growth.
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Xiao-qiong
XQ
Wu
Wei-jun
WJ
Cai
Xue-gang
XG
Luo
D000818:Animals; D003097:Collateral Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology*; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply*; D008026:Ligation; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013552:Swine
D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III