The Temporal Patterns Of VEGF Protein Expression In Rabbit Myocardium After Brief Ischemia

Objective: To study the temporal patterns of VEGF protein expression in rabbit myocardium after brief ischemia. Methods: New Zealand rabbits were subjected to complete occlusion of left ventricle coronary artery (LVA) for 2 min. They were divided into control group, ischemic group and reperfusion group which was further divided into 1h?2h?3h?4h?5h?6h and 7h group. Each group had five rabbits. Expression of VEGF protein in ischemic and no-ischemic myocardium was quantified by Western Blotting. Peripheral plasma samples were taken for CTn-I analysis. Result: ( 1 ) CTn-I did not change significantly. ( 2 ) VEGF levels remained similar in ischemic myocardium between the control and ischemic group. However, it increased significantly in the reperfusion groups at 1h, reached the peak at 3h, and decreased gradually from 4h to 7h. The time pattern in no-ischemic myocardium was similar to the ischemic, but delayed 2~3h afterwards. ( 3 ) VEGF level in ischemic myocardium was higher than no-ischemic myocardium in the reperfusion groups with high correlation ( r=0.983, p<0.001 ) . Conclusion: The expression of VEGF peaked at 3h in ischemic myocardium after transient ischemia. Temporal pattern in no-ischemia was similar, but delayed. There was a close correlation between ischemic and no-ischemic myocardium ( r=0.983, p<0.001 ) .