title: Effects of diabetes on myocardial capillary density and serum angiogenesis biomarkers in male rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity in diabetic patients. This study evaluated the effects of diabetes on myocardial capillary density and several serum angiogenic factors including nitric oxide, vascular endothelial growth factor, and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve male rats were divided into two groups: control and diabetic (n = 6 each). Diabetes was induced with a single dose of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). After 21 days, capillary density in the myocardial tissue was evaluated using immunohistochemical staining and is reported as capillaries per mm². Blood samples were collected before and after the induction of diabetes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the diabetic group, serum nitric oxide and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 concentrations were lower than the levels in the control group, while the level of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 was significantly higher. There was no significant change in the serum vascular endothelial growth factor concentration between the diabetic and control groups; however, the ratio of vascular endothelial growth factor to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 was significantly lower in the diabetic animals. The myocardial capillary density was also lower in the diabetic group compared with the control group (1549 ± 161 vs. 2156 ± 202/mm², respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced serum nitric oxide and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 levels, increased serum vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 levels and a lower vascular endothelial growth factor to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 ratio may be responsible for the decreased myocardial capillary density in diabetic rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Khazaei@med.mui.ac.ir
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khazaei
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fallahzadeh
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sharifi
authors.forename: Noushin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Afsharmoghaddam
authors.forename: Shaghayegh Haghjooy
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Javanmard
authors.forename: Ensieh
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salehi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002196:Capillaries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D013311:Streptozocin; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013311:Streptozocin; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor