ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the association between angiopoietin-2 (Angpt-2) and peritoneal angiogenesis in a uremic peritoneal dialysis (PD) rat model. Methods Uremic (subtotal nephrectomy) rats were established and divided into non-PD, 10 d-PD, 28 d-PD and 56 d-PD groups. Standard PD solution was applied in the study. Rats undergone sham operation without PD were used as control group. Vessel density of the peritoneum was detected and quantified with anti-CD31 immunohistochemical staining. Expressive levels of Angpt-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were examined in the peritoneum by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Results The non-PD group was characterized by increased vessel density in the peritoneum compared with that of the control group [(5±3)/HP vs (1±1)/HP]. Progressive angiogenesis was found in 10 d-PD, 28 d-PD and 56 d-PD groups [(10±5)/HP, (17±5)/HP, (19±4)/HP]. Furthermore, expressive levels of Angpt-2 and VEGF increased significantly in the non-PD group compared with the control (P<0.01), and such expressions were significantly higher in the PD groups as compared to non-PD group (P<0.01), but no difference was found among the PD groups. Both VEGF and Angpt-2 levels were positively correlated with vessel density(r=0.7756, P<0.01; r=0.5223, P<0.05). Conclusions Uremia and PD promote peritoneal angiogenesis in rats. Increased expression level of Angpt-2 in peritoneum is positively correlated with peritoneal angiogenesis. Angpt-2 may be a new therapeutic target of peritoneal angiogenesis.