Angiogenesis in the Ischemic Rat Lung

Summary

The lung is perfused by both the systemic bronchial artery and pulmonary arteries. In most lung pathologies, it is the smaller systemic vasculature that shows robust neovascularization. Cessation of pulmonary blood flow promotes brisk bronchial angiogenesis. We provide surgical details of inducing left pulmonary artery ischemia that promotes bronchial neovascularization.

Abstract

The adult lung is perfused by both the systemic bronchial artery and the entire venous return flowing through the pulmonary arteries. In most lung pathologies, it is the smaller systemic vasculature that responds to a need for enhanced lung perfusion and shows robust neovascularization. Pulmonary vascular ischemia induced by pulmonary artery obstruction has been shown to result in rapid systemic arterial angiogenesis in man as well as in several animal models. Although the histologic assessment of the time course of bronchial artery proliferation in rats was carefully described by Weibel ¹, mechanisms responsible for this organized growth of new vessels are not clear. We provide surgical details of inducing left pulmonary artery ischemia in the rat that leads to bronchial neovascularization. Quantification of the extent of angiogenesis presents an additional challenge due to the presence of the two vascular beds within the lung. Methods to determine functional angiogenesis based on labeled microsphere injections are provided.

Introduction

Systemic angiogenesis in the lung is well-recognized. In disease states such as asthma ², interstitial pulmonary fibrosis ³, cancer ⁴, and chronic pulmonary thromboembolism ⁵, the systemic vasculature in and surrounding the lung proliferates and invades the pulmonary parenchyma. However, animal models to study this differential activation of the systemic rather than the pulmonary circulation are few. Perhaps the most reproducible model of systemic neovascularization in the lung of the adult mammal is that which occurs after inducing chronic pulmonary artery ischemia. The response to left pulmonary artery obstruction ....

Protocol

All protocols performed on rats have been approved by the Johns Hopkins University Animal Care and Use Committee and in accordance with NIH guidelines. Whenever possible, the animal should be surgically prepped in an area separate from the surgical area to minimize contamination of the surgical site.

1. Anesthesia/analgesia

1. Place rat (Sprague Dawley male rats, 125-150 g; Harlan, Indianapolis, IN) in an induction chamber infused with 3% isoflurane.
2. Place anesthetized rat on surgery board attached to nose cone and ventilator with 3% isoflurane anesthetic. Use sterile technique for all procedures. Drape rat to ensure ster....

Results

Vascular cast: Results of the effects of left pulmonary artery ischemia in the rat are depicted in Figure 1. Shown is a methacrylate cast of the bronchial vasculature and the extensive vascularity of the left airway tree 28 days after LPAL. To obtain this cast, the systemic vasculature was injected with a methacrylate mixture (red), retrograde into the descending aorta and the trachea was cannulated and injected with a white silicon based material. This vascular cast provides a remarkable visuali.......

Discussion

Left pulmonary artery ligation in all species tested leads to robust systemic neovascularization of the ischemic lung. We have presented the details of the surgical approach in a rat model. Our results produced by vascular casting, histopathology, and in vivo labeling demonstrate that bronchial arteries proliferate and perfuse the pulmonary parenchyma. Thus, the mechanisms of bronchial angiogenesis can be studied in an animal model that parallels the human condition of chronic pulmonary thromboembolism. .......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
buprenorphine hydrochloride, Puralube	Butler Schein
bupivicaine	APP Pharmaceuticals
Povidone-Iodine swabstick	Dynarex Corporation
polypropylene suture size 6-0, 3/8 circle reverse cutting needle	Myco Medical
PE20 tubing	Becton Dickinson
15 μm crimson polystyrene fluorospheres	Invitrogen
1 ml Hamilton glass syringe	Hamilton Company
Equipment:
Genie Plus syringe pump	Kent Scientific
Fluorescence Spectrophotometer	Digilab
Rodent Ventilator Model 683	Harvard Apparatus
Table 1. Table of specific reagents and equipment.