Angiotensin II and VEGF are involved in angiogenesis induced by short-termexercise training

Results from our laboratory have suggested a pathway involving angiotensin II type I (AT(1)) receptors and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) i n angiogenesis induced by electrical stimulation. The present study investi gated if similar mechanisms underlie the angiogenesis induced by short-term exercise training. Seven days before training and throughout the training period, male Sprague-Dawley rats received either captopril or losartan in t heir drinking water. Rats underwent a 3-day treadmill training protocol. Th e tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles were harvested under anesthes ia and lightly fixed in formalin (vessel density) or frozen in liquid nitro gen (VEGF expression). In controls, treadmill training resulted in a signif icant increase in vessel density in all muscles studied. However, the angio genesis induced by exercise was completely blocked by either losartan or ca ptopril. Western blot analysis showed that VEGF expression was increased in the exercised control group, and both losartan and captopril blocked this increase. The role of VEGF was directly confirmed using a VEGF-neutralizing antibody. These results confirm the role of angiotensin II and VEGF in ang iogenesis induced by exercise.