Electrical stimulation relieves ischemia of rat skeletal muscle via angiogenesis / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of electrical stimulation on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)mRNA and receptor FLK 1/KDR in a ischemic model of rat hindlimb. Methods The model of hindlimb ischemia on the right side was established by ligation of the superficial femoral artery in 10 rats. The rats were then randomized into an experimental group and a control group. The rats in the experimental group were intervened with electrical stimulation ( 25 Hz, 0.1 V) on the tibialis anterior (TA) of the right side, while those in the control group were not. RT PCR and immunohistological methods were used to detect the expressions of VEGF mRNA and protein in TA muscles. FLK 1/KDR was detected by means of Western blot and immunofluorescence. Results After 7 days of continuous stimulation, there was a significant increase in blood flow within the muscle. VEGF mRNA and VEGF protein had 4 fold and 2 fold increases, respectively, in the stimulated TA muscles as compared to the control(2.58 vs 0.93, 0.48 vs 0.24, P