Effect of chronic enhanced external counterpulastion on gene expression profiles of arterial endothelial cells of pigs fed with high-cholesterol diet / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of chronic enhanced external counterpulastion (EECP) on gene expression profiles of arterial endothelial cells (ECs) of pigs fed with high-cholesterol diet.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eight male pigs were fed with high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks to induce arteriosclerosis and subjected to EECP for accumulative 36 h (2 h every other day for 18 sessions). Another 8 pigs on cholesterol-enriched diet and 6 normally fed pigs served as the arteriosclerosis model group and normal control group, respectively, and the high-cholesterol diet was maintained until the end of EECP treatment. The coronary artery was then isolated for transmission electro microscopy, and the abdominal aorta was observed using Sudan III staining. The gene expression profiles in ECs from the thoracic aorta using cDNA microarrays.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Macrophages and foam cells were detected beneath the ECs in the coronary artery of pigs in the model group, but not in the other two groups. The ratios of Sudan III-positive area in the celiac aorta were significantly lower in normal control and EECP groups than in the model control group (P<0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the gene expressions of integrins-beta1 and CTGF were up-regulated in the model group. Compared with the model group, the expressions of integrins-beta1, CTGF and VCAM-1 were down-regulated and eNOS up-regulated in EECP group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chronic EECP may reduce endothelial injury, down-regulate the gene expression level of integrin-beta1, CTGF and VCAM-1, lower cholesterol uptake and attenuate arterial endothelial inflammation to protect the pigs fed with high-cholesterol diet from arteriosclerosis.</p>

Establishment of a pig model of chronic ally enhanced external counterpulsation / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a pig model of chronic external counterpulsation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve pigs were anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (< or =30 mg/kg.b.w.) and 846 mixture (< or =0.1 ml/kg.b.w.) and counterpulsed in a lateral position for 2 h every two days (totally 36 h) with 0.025 to 0.04 MPa/cm(2) pressure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>External counterpulsation was successfully completed in all the animals. Combined administration of sodium pentobarbital and 846 mixture resulted in good anesthetic effect with reduced anesthetic dosage and minimal side effect on the viscera (the liver, kidney and heart, etc).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pig model of chronic external counterpulsation has been successfully established. Combined use of sodium pentobarbital and 846 mixture is recommended for chronic external counterpulsation.</p>

Effects of enhanced external counterpulsation in atherosclerosis and NF-kappaB expression: a pig model with hypercholesterolemia / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) on the vascular morphology, and endothelial function using experimentally induced hypercholesterolemic pigs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty five male pigs were randomly divided into three groups: 7 normal control animals, 11 hypercholesterolemic animals, and 17 hypercholesterolemic animals receiving EECP. Serum cholesterol was measured. The coronary arteries and aortas were sampled for histopathologic and ultrastructural examination. The NF-kappaB protein expression of porcine coronary arteries was investigated by immunofluorescence.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal controls, serum cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the hypercholesterolemic animals with or without EECP. The plaque/intimal area ratio of the aorta decreased significantly in animals receiving EECP [(3.33 +/- 2.40)%, versus (12.03 +/- 7.12)% in those without EECP, P < 0.05]. Lipid deposition, endothelial damage and proliferation of smooth muscle cells were less severe in animals receiving EECP than those not. Moreover, activation and expression of NF-kappaB also decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in animals receiving EECP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>EECP improves the morphology and function of vascular endothelium, and retards the development and progression of atherosclerosis, likely through the inhibition of NF-kappaB signaling pathway.</p>

Microvessel angiogenesis: a possible cardioprotective mechanism of external counterpulsation for canine myocardial infarction / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). It has been proposed that the beneficial effects of EECP observed in clinical studies may be due to the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and collateral development. However, there is a relative paucity of basic studies to support the proposed mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve Beagle dogs were anesthetized with 3% sodium pentobarbital, 1 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection and mechanically ventilated for the development of myocardial infarction. After coronary occlusion, all animals were randomly assigned to either EECP or control. EECP was given one hour per day, 5 days a week, for a total of 28 to 30 hours treatment over a 6-week course. Immunohistochemical studies of alpha-actin and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were used to detect newly developed microvessels. Systemic and local vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were identified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse-transcriptional polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant increase in the density of microvessels per mm(2) in the infarcted regions of EECP group compared to control group (vWF, 15.2 +/- 6.3 versus 4.9 +/- 2.1, P < 0.05; alpha-actin, 11.8 +/- 5.3 versus 3.4 +/- 1.2, P < 0.05), along with significant increase of positive vWF and alpha-actin stained area. Both immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR analysis documented a significant increase in VEGF expression. These factors associated with angiogenesis corresponded to improved myocardial perfusion by 99mTc-sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Microvessel angiogenesis may be a mechanism of action for the improved myocardial perfusion after EECP therapy.</p>