Astragalosides promote angiogenesis via vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in a rat model of myocardial infarction.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of astragalosides (ASTs) on angiogenesis, as well as the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) following myocardial infarction (MI). MI was induced in rats by ligation of the left coronary artery. Twenty‑four hours after surgery, the rats were divided into low‑dose, high‑dose, control and sham surgery groups (n=8 per group). The low‑ and high‑dose groups were treated with ASTs (2.5 and 10 mg/kg/day, respectively, via intraperitoneal injection), while, the control and sham surgery group rats received saline. Serum levels, and mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF and bFGF, as well as the microvessel density (MVD) were determined four weeks post‑treatment. Twenty‑four hours post‑surgery, VEGF and bFGF serum levels were observed to be comparable between the groups; while at four weeks, the VEGF and bFGF levels were higher in the AST‑treated rats (P<0.01). Similarly, VEGF and bFGF mRNA and protein expression levels were higher following AST treatment (P<0.05). No difference in VEGF mRNA expression between the low‑ and high‑dose groups was noted, however, an increase in the bFGF expression levels was detected in the high‑dose group. Newly generated blood vessels were observed following MI, with a significant increase in MVD observed in the AST‑treated groups (P<0.05). AST promotes angiogenesis of the heart and increases VEGF and bFGF expression levels. Thus, it is hypothesized that increased VEGF and bFGF levels may contribute to the AST‑induced increase in angiogenesis in rat models of MI.
Department of Gerontology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China.
Jun-Min
JM
Yu
Department of Gerontology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China.
Xiao-Bo
XB
Zhang
Department of Gerontology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China.
Wen
W
Jiang
Department of Gerontology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China.
Hui-Dong
HD
Wang
Department of Gerontology, The Second Clinical Medical College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China.
Yi-Na
YN
Zhang
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000503:physiopathology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014315:Triterpenes; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000502:physiology*
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D012503:Saponins; D014315:Triterpenes; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; C052064:astragaloside A