Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-B Induces a Distinct Electrophysiological Phenotype in Mouse Heart.

ABSTRACT: Vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGF-B) is a potent mediator of vascular, metabolic, growth, and stress responses in the heart, but the effects on cardiac muscle and cardiomyocyte function are not known. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of VEGF-B on the energy metabolism, contractile, and electrophysiological properties of mouse cardiac muscle and cardiac muscle cells. In vivo and ex vivo analysis of cardiac-specific VEGF-B TG mice indicated that the contractile function of the TG hearts was normal. Neither the oxidative metabolism of isolated TG cardiomyocytes nor their energy substrate preference showed any difference to WT cardiomyocytes. Similarly, myocyte Ca²⁺ signaling showed only minor changes compared to WT myocytes. However, VEGF-B

SUBMITTER: Naumenko N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5450225 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature