Differential expression of Flk-1 and Flt-1 in rat skeletal muscle in response to chronic ischaemia: favourable effect of muscle activity

2003 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malgorzata MILKIEWICZ ◽  
Olga HUDLICKA ◽  
Julie VERHAEG ◽  
Stuart EGGINTON ◽  
Margaret D. BROWN

To determine the involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors Flk-1 and Flt-1 in capillary growth in ischaemic skeletal muscle, extensor digitorum longus muscles from hindlimbs of Sprague—Dawley rats were studied at 1, 2 and 5 week intervals after iliac artery ligation. Muscle VEGF protein levels (as determined by Western-blot analysis) increased only after 2 (60%) and 5 (80%) weeks, with more capillaries positively immunostained for VEGF than in control muscles. Ischaemia-induced angiogenesis was gradual, with capillary proliferation at 1 and 2 weeks and capillary:fibre ratio increased 20% after 5 weeks. This was associated with an initial doubling of Flk-1 protein after 1 week that declined below control levels by 5 weeks, whereas Flt-1 expression was elevated more than 40% at all time points. During more sustained ischaemia (femoral ligation 3 weeks after iliac ligation), VEGF protein level at 5 weeks was even higher, but Flt-1 and Flk-1 were unchanged from control levels and no capillary growth occurred. Intermittent electrical stimulation (10 Hz, 7×15 min/day) of these ischaemic muscles between weeks 3–5 did not elevate VEGF further, but increased Flk-1 by 32%, decreased Flt-1 by 71%, and led to significant capillary growth. These results demonstrate that during chronic muscle ischaemia Flk-1 and Flt-1 are regulated differentially and that electrical stimulation of ischaemic muscles can promote angiogenesis via Flk-1 up-regulation. Even when ischaemic muscle VEGF levels are high, capillary growth appears to be dependent on the presence of Flk-1.

2014 ◽  
pp. 801-805
Author(s):  
H.-C. XIE ◽  
J.-P. HE ◽  
J.-F. ZHU ◽  
J.-G. LI

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) transcriptionally regulates expression of several target genes in protecting tissues against hypoxia. With hypoxic stress, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a signal protein produced by cells and further contributes to improvement of vascular functions and restoring the oxygen supply to tissues. In this current study, we first hypothesized that the protein levels of HIF-1α and VEGF are reduced in skeletal muscles of plateau animals [China Qinghai-Tibetan plateau pikas (ochotona curzoniae)] in response to hypoxia as compared with control animals [normal lowland Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats]. We further hypothesized that HIF-1α plays a role in regulating expression of VEGF in skeletal muscle. Note that HIF-1α and VEGF were determined by using two-site immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) methods. Our results demonstrated that hypoxic stress induced by exposure of lower O2 (6 h) significantly increased the levels of HIF-1α and VEGF in the oxidative and glycolytic muscles of SD rats and pikas (P<0.05 vs. normoxic conditions). Notably, the increases in HIF-1α and VEGF were significantly less in pikas (P<0.05, vs. SD controls) than in SD rats. In addition, a linear relationship was observed between amplified HIF-1α and VEGF in oxidative muscle (r=0.76 and P<0.01) and glycolytic muscle (r=0.72 and P<0.01) and inhibiting HIF-1α significantly decreased expression of VEGF induced by hypoxic stress in skeletal muscles (P<0.05). Overall, our findings suggest that (1) responsiveness of HIF-1α and VEGF in skeletal muscles to hypoxic stress is blunted in plateau animals, and (2) HIF-1α has a regulatory effect on VEGF under hypoxic environment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Guizhen Liu ◽  
Yuchuan Sun ◽  
Fei Liu

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> The purpose of this study was to explore the role of curcumin (Cur) in isoflurane (ISO)-induced learning and memory dysfunction in Sprague-Dawley rats and further elucidate the mechanism of the protective effect produced by Cur. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Rat models of cognitive impairment were established by inhaling 3% ISO. The Morris water maze test was used to assess the cognitive function of rats. ELISA and qRT-PCR were used to analyze the protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and expression levels of miR-181a-5p, respectively. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Cur significantly improved the ISO-induced cognitive dysfunction in rats and alleviated the ISO-induced neuroinflammation. miR-181a-5p was overexpressed in ISO-induced rats, while Cur treatment significantly reduced the expression of miR-181a-5p. Overexpression of miR-181a-5p promoted the cognitive impairment and the release of inflammatory cytokines and reversed the neuroprotective effect of Cur. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Cur has a protective effect on ISO-induced cognitive dysfunction, which may be achieved by regulating the expression of miR-181a-5p.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Cui ◽  
Hao Wang ◽  
Yun Long ◽  
Longxiang Su ◽  
Dawei Liu

The aim of this study is to determine the mechanism of sepsis-induced vascular hyperpermeability and the beneficial effect of glucocorticoid in protecting vascular endothelium. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given either a bolus intraperitoneal injection of a nonlethal dose of LPS (Escherichia coli055:B5, 10 mg/kg, Sigma) or vehicle (pyrogen-free water). Animals of treatment groups were also given either dexamethasone (4 mg/kg, 30 min prior to LPS injection) or the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) inhibitor doxycycline (4 mg/kg, 30 min after LPS injection). Both activities and protein levels of MMP-2p<0.001and MMP-9p<0.001were significantly upregulated in aortic homogenates from LPS-treated rats, associated with decreased ZO-1p<0.001and syndecan-1p=0.011protein contents. Both dexamethasone and doxycycline could significantly inhibit MMPs activity and reserve the expressions of ZO-1 and syndecan-1. The inhibition of MMPs by dexamethasone was significantly lower than that by doxycycline, while the rescue of syndecan-1 expression from LPS-induced endotoxemic rat thoracic aorta was significantly higher in the dexamethasone-treated compared to the doxycycline-treatedp=0.03. In conclusion, activation of MMPs plays important role in regulating ZO-1 and syndecan-1 protein levels in LPS mediated endothelial perturbation. Both dexamethasone and doxycycline inhibit activation of MMPs that may contribute to the rescue of ZO-1 and syndecan-1 expression.


2009 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 460-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude Lajoie ◽  
Viviane El-Helou ◽  
Cindy Proulx ◽  
Robert Clément ◽  
Hugues Gosselin ◽  
...  

Rapamycin represents a recognized drug-based therapeutic approach to treat cardiovascular disease. However, at least in the female heart, rapamycin may suppress the recruitment of putative signalling events conferring cardioprotection. The present study tested the hypothesis that rapamycin-sensitive signalling events contributed to the cardioprotective phenotype of the female rat heart after an ischemic insult. Rapamycin (1.5 mg/kg) was administered to adult female Sprague–Dawley rats 24 h after complete coronary artery ligation and continued for 6 days. Rapamycin abrogated p70S6K phosphorylation in the left ventricle of sham rats and the noninfarcted left ventricle (NILV) of 1-week postmyocardial-infarcted (MI) rats. Scar weight (MI 0.028 ± 0.006, MI+rapamycin 0.064 ± 0.004 g) and surface area (MI 0.37 ± 0.08, MI+rapamycin 0.74 ± 0.03 cm2) were significantly larger in rapamycin-treated post-MI rats. In the NILV of post-MI female rats, rapamycin inhibited the upregulation of eNOS. Furthermore, the increased expression of collagen and TGF-β3 mRNAs in the NILV were attenuated in rapamycin-treated post-MI rats, whereas scar healing was unaffected. The present study has demonstrated that rapamycin-sensitive signalling events were implicated in scar formation and reactive fibrosis. Rapamycin-mediated suppression of eNOS and TGF-β3 mRNA in post-MI female rats may have directly contributed to the larger infarct and attenuation of the reactive fibrotic response, respectively.


1981 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Hubbard ◽  
M. Mager ◽  
W. D. Bowers ◽  
I. Leav ◽  
G. Angoff ◽  
...  

A total of 182 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250–300 g were fed either a control (n = 122) diet for 32 days. The diets contained either 125 or 8 meq potassium/kg, respectively. Rats fed the low-K diet gained weight at only one-third the rate of controls (1.7 vs. 5.2 g/day), and their skeletal muscle and plasma potassium levels were reduced by 28 and 47%, respectively. When run to exhaustion at either 15 or 20 degrees C, low K+-fed rats accomplished less than one-half of the work done by the controls (26 vs. 53 kg. m) but exhibited a markedly greater rate of heat gain per kilogram-meter of work than controls (0.12 vs. 0.05 degrees C)ambient temperature of 20 degrees C, the rats of the low-K+ group despite large differences in body weight (-25%), run time temperature and twice (33 vs 17%) the mortality rate of the controls. Postexercise increases in circulating potassium (less than 90%) of heat-injured rats raised the plasma levels of low K+-fed rats to normal (5.9 +/- 2.2 meq/l). These results appear to characterize the existence of an insidious and, therefore, undocumented form of fatal exertion-induced heat illness.


2006 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 1117-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shane A. Phillips ◽  
E. B. Olson ◽  
Julian H. Lombard ◽  
Barbara J. Morgan

Although arterial dilator reactivity is severely impaired during exposure of animals to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), few studies have characterized vasoconstrictor responsiveness in resistance arteries of this model of sleep-disordered breathing. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to CIH (10% inspired O2 fraction for 1 min at 4-min intervals; 12 h/day) for 14 days. Control rats were housed under normoxic conditions. Diameters of isolated gracilis muscle resistance arteries (GA; 120–150 μm) were measured by television microscopy before and during exposure to norepinephrine (NE) and angiotensin II (ANG II) and at various intraluminal pressures between 20 and 140 mmHg in normal and Ca2+-free physiological salt solution. There was no difference in the ability of GA to constrict in response to ANG II ( P = 0.42; not significant; 10−10–10−7 M). However, resting tone, myogenic activation, and vasoconstrictor responses to NE ( P < 0.001; 10−9–10−6 M) were reduced in CIH vs. controls. Treatment of rats with the superoxide scavenger 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (tempol; 1 mM) in the drinking water restored myogenic responses and NE-induced constrictions of CIH rats, suggesting that elevated superoxide production during exposure to CIH attenuates vasoconstrictor responsiveness to NE and myogenic activation in skeletal muscle resistance arteries. CIH also leads to an increased stiffness and reduced vessel wall distensibility that were not correctable with oral tempol treatment.


2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 862-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany A. Edgett ◽  
Melanie L. Fortner ◽  
Arend Bonen ◽  
Brendon J. Gurd

This study examined changes in the expression of translation initiation regulatory proteins and mRNA following both an acute bout of endurance exercise and chronic muscle contractile activity. Female Sprague Dawley rats ran for 2 h at 15 m·min−1 followed by an increase in speed of 5 m·min−1 every 5 min until volitional fatigue. The red gastrocnemius muscle was harvested from nonexercised animals (control; n = 6) and from animals that exercised either immediately after exercise (n = 6) or following 3 h of recovery from exercise (n = 6). Compared with control, ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6) mRNA was elevated (p < 0.05) at both 0 h (+32%) and 3 h (+47%). Both a catalytic subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2B (eIF2Bε) (+127%) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) mRNA (+44%) were increased at 3 h, compared with control. Phosphorylation of mTOR (+40%) and S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) (+266%) were increased immediately after exercise (p < 0.05). Female Sprague Dawley rats also underwent chronic stimulation of the peroneal nerve continuously for 7 days. The red gastrocnemius muscle was removed 24 h after cessation of the stimulation. Chronic muscle stimulation increased (p < 0.05) mTOR protein (+74%), rpS6 (+31%), and eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (+44%, p = 0.069), and this was accompanied by an increase in cytochrome c (+31%). Increased resting phosphorylation was observed for rpS6 (+51%) (p < 0.05) but not for mTOR or eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1. These experiments demonstrate that both acute and chronic contractile activity up-regulate the mTOR pathway and mitochondrial content in murine skeletal muscle. This up-regulation of the mTOR pathway may increase translation efficiency and may also represent an important control point in exercise-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis.


1982 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 947-954 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Lemon ◽  
F. J. Nagle ◽  
J. P. Mullin ◽  
N. J. Benevenga

After ingestion of a mixed diet containing a tracer dose (10 muCi) of L-[1–14C]leucine (Leu), 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats (70–90 g) remained at rest (R) or completed 1 h exercise at 80 (E80) or 40% VO2max (E40). 14CO2 production was assessed for 6 h (exercise occurred from h 2 to 3). Four rats were killed at 2, 3, 4, and 6 h (R), at 3 and 6 h (E80), and at 6 h (E40). Determinations were 1) tissue specific activity dpm X mumol-1 from a) mixed skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius, soleus, quadriceps, and hamstrings) and b) liver and 2) radioactivity remaining in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Leu oxidized (mumol) was estimated (14 CO2 dpm X tissue sp act dpm-1 X mumol-1) independently from skeletal muscle and liver. Results were 1) 14CO2 production increased in both E80 and E40 compared with R (P less than 0.05), 2) E80 14CO2 increase was greater than E40 (P less than 0.05), 3) GIT absorption was reduced in E80 and E40 compared with R (P less than 0.05), and 4) exercise Leu oxidation (weighted average of tissue estimates) was 26% greater than R (P less than 0.05). The origin and site of the increased Leu oxidation cannot be determined from the present data; however, due to the magnitude of increase in skeletal muscle metabolism relative to other tissues during exercise, it is probable that skeletal muscle plays a significant role.


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