Effects of In Vivo Gene Transfer of Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 on Cardiac Function and Collateral Vessel Formation in the Microembolized Rabbit Heart

Abstract

The effects of gene transfer of the secreted form of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) were tested using an adenovirus vector in the microembolized rabbit heart. Japanese white rabbits underwent an intracoronary injection of 25-μm microspheres followed by recombinant adenovirus vectors encoding a secreted form of FGF-2 (FGF group), LacZ (LacZ group), or saline (saline group). Left ventricular (LV) systolic function was serially assessed by echocardiography. Vascular density was measured at 14 days with Azan and CD31 staining. The development of collateral vessels was assessed by measuring myocardial blood flow before and after the occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Percent fractional shortening (%FS) decreased after the microembolization, and improved gradually for 14 days in the FGF group only (41±1% (FGF) vs 32±1% (LacZ), 31±1% (saline), pFGF-2 was beneficial for the recovery of LV systolic function and development of collateral vessels in the microembolized rabbit heart. (Jpn Circ J 2001; 65: 226 - 231)