Effect Of Intravenous Administration Of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor On Ischemic Myocardium In Rabbits

Objective: to examine the effect of intravenous administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on ischemic myocardium, and to evaluate potential adverse effects of systemic bFGF. Methods: A thoracotomy was performed using a left-side approach, after ligated the left anterior descending coronary artery, the rabbits were randomized to receive recombinant bFGF (100ug/kg, n=8) or recombinant bFGF (500ug/kg, n=7) or saline (n=9) as a venous injection for 2 weeks, echocardiography was used for assess left ventricular function of each groups before and immediately after operation and at 12 weeks; completed blood counts and creatinine, urea nitrogen and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were performed weekly; 12 weeks later, the vessels growth of ischemic myocardium and the tissue samples removed from the lung, liver, kidney of the three group were evaluated by histological analysis. Results: bFGF treatment associated with a moderate reversible thrombocytopenia but resulted in no significant increases in the number of capillaries, and no effect on left ventricular function; no significant pathological findings were observed in lung, liver or kidney in each group. Conclusions: Intravenous administration of bFGF showed no angiogenic effect on ischemic myocardium.