"Detection of PIGF protein in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes"

Abstract

Angiogenesis, the formation of blood vessels, can provide blood to the heart when its normal arteries are compromised. Angiogenesis is highly dependent on the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) family. Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) is a member of this family and is crucial for pathological angiogenesis in the adult. PlGF coupled with the more common VEGF could greatly increase angiogenesis in the heart tissue, thus providing oxygen to ischemic heart tissue. Previous research has shown that PlGF mRNA increases with six hours of hypoxia which models ischemia. However, not much is known about PlGF expression on the protein level. We intend to establish that PlGF protein expression will increase in rat cardiomyocytes which have undergone 6, 12 and 24 hours of hypoxia compared to normoxic rat cardiomyocytes. This information will later be used in studies of potential protective treatments using PlGF.