Beneficial Effects of CO₂-enrichedWater Bath Treatment on Blood Flow and Angiogenesis in Ischemic Hind Limb

 

V. Elimban, Y-J. Xu, N. S.Dhalla. Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research, Winnipeg, Canada

 

Peripheral artery disease (PAD)is a major health problem whereby narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to thelimbs. We investigated the effects of CO₂-enriched water bath (CEWB)treatment on blood flow in the ischemic hind limb. The femoral artery wasoccluded in rats to induce PAD. Rats were treated with or without CEWB at 37°Cfor 4 weeks (20 min/day; 5 days/week) starting one week after artery occlusion.CEWB was prepared by using Carbothera (Mitsubishi Rayon Engineering, Tokyo). Peaks, mean orminimal blood flow measured by Pulse Wave Doppler Ultrasound technique, werenot detected in the untreated ischemic hind limb animals due to arterialligation.  However, blood flow valueswere about 50% of the control upon treatment with CEWB; 67% of the ligatedanimals showed positive blood flow by CO₂ treatment.  Morphological examination of the treatedischemic skeletal muscle revealed a 3-fold increase in small arterynumbers.  Although plasma triglyceridesdecreased and plasma NO concentration increased in ischemic animals, CEWB treatmentproduced no effects on these parameters. It is suggested that beneficial actionof CO₂ therapy on blood flow to hind limb may be due to theformation of new blood vessels in the ischemic skeletal muscle.

2nd Cardiovascular Forum for Promoting Centers of Excellence and Young Investigators.

September 4-6, 2014

Winnipeg, MB, Canada