Vascular endothelial growth factor in porcine coronary arteries following balloon angioplasty

The present study was a preliminary inquiry into the presence of vascular e ndothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a model of coronary artery response to i njury. We examined domestic pigs who had received a diet enriched in satura ted fat and cholesterol and undergone balloon angioplasty of one or more co ronary arteries. Immunohistochemical analysis of the coronary arteries 2 mo nths after injury revealed the presence of VEGF distributed throughout the media and neointima of the angioplasty lesions and in association with bloo d vessels in the adventitia and those vessels growing into the base of the neointima. VEGF was also detected in areas of dietary-induced intimal. prol iferation. This study provided the first immunochemical demonstration of VE GF occuring naturally in a pig model of coronary response to injury.