%0 Journal Article
%T The angiogenic response is dependent on ultrasound contrast agent concentration
%A Chenara A Johnson
%A William D O'Brien
%J Vascular Cell
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/2045-824x-4-10
%X A 1-MHz ultrasonic transducer was used to expose the gracilis muscles of Sprague Dawley rats for 5 min with a 10-¦Ìs pulse duration, 10-Hz pulse repetition frequency, and 0.7-MPa peak rarefactional acoustic pressure (pr). Four [UCA]s were tested: 0x (saline), 1¡Á, 5¡Á, and 10¡Á, where 1¡Á is 5% Definity by volume of solution. Evans blue dye (EBD) was used to quantify changes in acute vascular permeability (0 DPE), and VEGF expression was quantified at 5 DPE to support that angiogenesis had occurred. CD31 staining was used to assess capillary density at both time points.[UCA] was a significant parameter for determining EBD leakage (permeability) and VEGF expression (p£¿<£¿0.001 for both). However, [UCA] was not a significant parameter for capillary density at 0 or 5 DPE. Multiple comparisons between 0 and 5 DPE showed that only 10¡Á [UCA] at 5 DPE was significantly different than 0 DPE, suggesting a [UCA] dependence of the angiogenic response.This study suggests that [UCA] was a significant parameter in the induction of an angiogenic response with US and UCAs. It also suggests that rather than damage from US and UCAs, as previously speculated, a nondestructive mechanical interaction between the UCAs and vascular endothelium induces bioeffects to potentiate the angiogenic response.
%K Angiogenesis
%K VEGF
%K Ultrasound-induced bioeffects
%K Ultrasound contrast agent
%K Proangiogenic therapy
%K Therapeutic ultrasound
%U http://www.vascularcell.com/content/4/1/10/abstract