VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR CAUSES ENDOTHELIAL PROLIFERATION AFTER VASCULAR INJURY

Vascular endothelial growth factor was infused into rat carotid arteri es for 3 minutes immediately after endothelial denudation by balloon i njury. Endothelial proliferation was determined by immunohistochemical labelling of proliferating cell nuclear antigen using Hautchen prepar ations. The proliferation index, or number of proliferating cells/tota l cells, measured at 25.5 or 30 hours was markedly increased after inf usion of vascular endothelial growth factor. In addition, the total nu mber of proliferating cells increased with increasing doses up to 100 mu g total dose per infusion. These data indicate that infusion of vas cular endothelial growth factor increases endothelial cell proliferati on after mechanical denudation injury of the vascular wall. (C) 1995 A cademic Press, Inc.