title: Evaluation of hepatocyte growth factor plasmid therapeutic effect by 99mTc-hexakis-2-methyoxy-isobutylisonitrile blood flow scintigraphy in a rat model of hind limb ischemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted in an attempt to use blood flow scintigraphy with 99mTc-hexakis-2-methyoxy-isobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) for the evaluation of the angiogenic effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plasmid in a rat model of hind limb ischemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The femoral artery of the left hind limb of each rat was ligated to create a model of hind limb ischemia. Three weeks later, HGF plasmid (1.5 mg/1.1 ml/body) or saline (1.1 ml/body) was administered intramuscularly into three sites of the ischemic hind limb. Two and 4 weeks after the treatment, blood flow through the hind limb was measured by 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy. In addition, the number of capillary endothelial cells obtained by immunostaining for CD31 was counted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy in the HGF plasmid-treated group, the blood flow ratio increased significantly from the pretreatment ratio 63.8 to 73.4%, 2 weeks after treatment (P<0.05) and to 97.8%, 4 weeks after treatment (P<0.05). The number of CD31-positive endothelial cells was significantly higher in the HGF plasmid-treated group than in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experimental study using a rat model of hind limb ischemia showed usefulness of 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy to evaluate the angiogenic effect of HGF plasmid treatment.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Fujifilm RI Pharma Co. Ltd., Sanmu, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagano
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Komatsuno
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minamizawa
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamagami
authors.forename: Chio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Okuyama
authors.forename: Tsunehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishimura
mesh_terms: D043924:Angiogenesis Modulating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D043924:Angiogenesis Modulating Agents; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi