The effect of adenovirus-mediated vascular endothelial growth factor 165 on angiogenesis in acute ischemic hindlimb of rabbit

Objective: To investigate the efficacy on inducing angiogenesis and the expressing of the adenovirus mediated vascular endothelial growth factor 165 （Ad VEGF165） in ischemic muscles.Methods: New Zealand White rabbits underwent ligation of femoral artery and injection of Ad VEGF165 or phosphate buffered saline （PBS） solution into the ischemic thigh muscles The angiography,single photon emission computer tomography （SPECT） imaging and immunohistochemistry assay were carried out to evaluate the angiogenesis in the ischemic region 5 weeks later and enzyme linked immunoassay （ELISA） was done to investigate the local expression of Ad VEGF165 in the injected muscles.Results: The peak expression of Ad VEGF165 occured 24 hours after the administration of Ad VEGF165 and decreased gradually to control level by seven days The collateral vessels （P＜0.001）,vascular density （P＜0.005） and relative blood flow （P＜0.001） increased significantly in the therapy group compared with control group.Conclusion: Local intramuscular injection of Ad VEGF165 results in transient local expression of the VEGF,induces angiogenesis and enhances blood flow in the ischemic muscles of the New Zealand White rabbits.