Effects of 50 Hz low voltage electric stimulation on angiogenesis and the expression of VEGF in the ischemic myocardium / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the effects of 50 Hz low voltage electric stimulation on angiogenesis and the expression of VEGF in the ischemic myoeardium in rats. Methods Twelve Wistar rats with experimentally induced myocardial ischemia were randomly divided into an electric stimulation (ES) group and a control group. The animals in the electric stimulation group were electrically stimulated at 50 Hz and 0.3 V through electrodes implanted in the epicardium of the anterior wall of the left artrium. Those in the control group were delivered sham electrical stimula- tion through similar implanted electrodes. Immunohistochemistry was used to count endothelial cells (ECs) and measure the capillary density (CD). A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to measure the expression of VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA. Results The number of ECs, and the CDs in the ES group were significantly greater than in the control group, and the expression of VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA was also significantly higher. Conclusions Low voltage electrical stimulation at 50 Hz can promote angiogenesis and the expression of VEGF in the ischemic myocardium in rats.