Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Lots of traditional Chinese medicines with the effects of nourishment and angiogenesis have the similar functions with those of angiogenic growth factors.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the angiogenic mechanism of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) collagen sponge by its regulating expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and the up signal pathway of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) protein.
METHODS: Collagen sponges with and without APS immobilization were implanted inside subcutaneous pockets for 3, 7, 14 and 21 days respectively. The surrounding granulation tissue of collagen was taken to detect.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The number of miocrovessels in granulation tissue was increased at 3 days after modeling and reached to peak at 7 to 14 day, and then decreased gradually. The number of miocrovessels in granulation tissue and the expressions of VEGF-mRNA and NF-κB protein of surrounding tissues of collagen sponges with APS immobilization were higher than that without APS immobilization (P < 0.01). The protein expression of NF-κB was earlier than the expression of VEGF-mRNA and newborn miocrovessels. The partly angiogenic mechanisms of collagen sponges with APS may be realized through the activation of the NF-κB protein pathway to improve VEGF-mRNA expression in the surrounding tissues.