Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C–induced Collateral Formation in a Model of Myocardial Ischemia

Ligation of Ameroid-Stenosed Coronary Artery Leads to Reproducible Myocardial Infarction—A Pilot Study in a Porcine Model

“…As described by other investigators, we have noticed variability in the conventional ameroid model [10,11,16,17]. In our previous study, at 3 wk after ameroid application, the mean stenosis was only 78% and at 7 wk 95%, while 25% of coronaries still were patent.…”

“…Another size matched (17 to 27 kg) group of 12 piglets that was similarly sedated and operated on for ameroid application and consequent follow-up studies served as a control for the ameroid occlusion at 3 wk [11]. …”

“…Complete vessel occlusion has been described to range from 6 to 201 d [15]. In our previous study of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C induced collateral formation, the average occlusion was 75% at 3 wk after ameroid placement, and by 7 wk there still were incompletely occluded constrictors [11].…”

“…In the body, the dehydrated casein has a tendency to slowly absorb fluid and swell, thus slowly obstructing the vessel inside the constrictor lumen. Although other methods of occlusive coronary disease have been introduced, such as fixed stenosis and hydraulic occluders, ameroids have been most extensively used in the studies of collateral circulation [11][12][13][14]. Anyhow, the ameroid function is inconsistent.…”

Transgenic Induction of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C Is Strongly Angiogenic in Mouse Embryos but Leads to Persistent Lymphatic Hyperplasia in Adult Tissues

“…23,32,33 Increasing evidence shows that VEGFR-3 is involved in angiogenesis as well as lymphangiogenesis, as first demonstrated by defective remodeling of the primary blood vascular plexus in Vegfr3-null embryos, 33 and by the more recent discovery of antiangiogenic effects of VEGFR-3 blocking molecules in the developing retina and in experimental tumors. 27,28,34 Effects on blood vessels were also reported when VEGF-C was overexpressed via adenoviral gene transfer in skin, muscle, or mesenteric tissues, 4,35,36 and angiogenic and immunomodulatory effects have been observed in some, but not all, tumor models. 6,7,12,13 To investigate the vascular effects of VEGF-C in a system in which its expression can be spatially and temporally controlled, without side effects such as inflammation that can result from viral delivery or the abnormal environment of a tumor, we overexpressed mouse VEGF-C via a tetracycline-inducible transgene in mice.…”