title: Abnormalities in three-dimensional capillary architecture and imbalance between vascular endothelial growth factor-A and thrombospondin-1 in soleus muscle of ovariectomized rat.
abstract: Reduced ovarian hormone levels associated with menopause or ovariectomy (OVX) not only result in vascular dysfunction but also lead to structural abnormalities in capillaries. Therefore, the effect of OVX on the three-dimensional (3-D) architecture of capillary networks and the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated in rat soleus muscle. Seven-week-old female Wistar rats were divided into the OVX and sham-treated (Sham) groups. The OVX group exhibited lower endurance exercise capacity compared to the sham group and resulted in decreased capillary diameter, number of anastomoses and capillary/anastomosis volume in soleus muscle, indicating 3-D structural abnormalities of capillary networks. Furthermore, OVX led to increased concentrations of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) protein and a decreased VEGF-A/TSP-1 ratio, an indicator of angio-adaptations, in soleus muscle compared with the Sham group. These results indicate OVX may induce 3-D capillary regression in soleus muscle through an imbalance between VEGF-A and TSP-1 expression, possibly associated with decreased exercise tolerance in ovariectomized rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 7-10-2 Tomogaoka, Kobe 654-0142, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 7-10-2 Tomogaoka, Kobe 654-0142, Japan.
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanazashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 7-10-2 Tomogaoka, Kobe 654-0142, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maezawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Nagoya Women's University, Nagoya 467-8610, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 7-10-2 Tomogaoka, Kobe 654-0142, Japan. Electronic address: fujino@phoenix.kobe-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hidemi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019700:Thrombospondin 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019700:Thrombospondin 1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019344:Lactic Acid; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase
keywords: Capillary network; Ovariectomy; Skeletal muscle; Three-dimensional imaging; Thrombospondin-1; Vascular endothelial growth factor-A