Rh. Yang et al., EFFECTS OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR ON HEMODYNAMICS AND CARDIAC-PERFORMANCE, Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology, 27(6), 1996, pp. 838-844
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a major regulator of angiog
enesis, has therapeutic benefit in animal models of coronary or limb i
schemia. However, the hemodynamic effects of VEGF have not been invest
igated. We examined the effects of VEGF on hemodynamics and cardiac pe
rformance. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (WR), cardiac outp
ut, stroke volume, left ventricular (LV) dP/dt, and hematocrit were me
asured before and after intravenous injection of VEGF in conscious, in
strumented rats. VEGF caused a dose-dependent reduction inMAP and an a
ssociated increase in PIR. VEGF (250 mu g/kg) significantly decreased
cardiac output and stroke volume without affecting the inotropic state
of the left ventricle, as determined by dPicir. VEGF significantly in
creased hematocrit, Furthermore, VEGF did not affect contractiiity or
HR in the isolated rat heart in vitro. The data suggest that the VEGF-
induced decrease in cardiac output is due to reduced stroke volume, wh
ich may be caused by a decrease in venous return rather than a direct
effect on myocardial contractilitSI. In addition, pretreatment with N-
omega-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide (NO) synth
ase inhibitor, significantly attenuated the depressor and tachycardic
responses to VEGF, suggesting that VEGF-induced hypotension may be med
iated by NO.