Erythropoietin and growth factors exhibit differential angiogenic potential in mouse heart.
BACKGROUND
The possible angiogenic effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) and several possibly angiogenic cytokines such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGIF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was investigated in mouse heart.


METHODS
Mice were divided into five groups (n = 7/group): A, control; B, rHuEpo-treated; C, (aFGF-treated); D, (VEGF-treated); E, (bFGF-treated). The antibody mouse anti-human CD31 was used to evaluate the vessels present in histological preparations.


RESULTS
The results show a significant increase of the vessel number per optical field in the rHuEpo-treated, the bFGF-treated and the VEGF-treated animals compared to controls whereas aFGF did not show any significant angiogenic activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Erythropoietin has a significant angiogenic effect in the mouse heart, similar to the effect of other angiogenic factors such as bFGF and VEGF whereas aFGF does not exhibit any effect.
Department of Physiology, Democritus University of Thrace, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, 68100, Greece. opagonop@med.duth.gr
Olga
O
Pagonopoulou
Anna
A
Efthimiadou
Maria
M
Lambropoulou
Nikos
N
Papadopoulos
Nikos K
NK
Nikolettos
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000494:pharmacology*
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D004921:Erythropoietin; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors