Skeletal myofiber VEGF is essential for the exercise training response in adult mice

Hamid Delavar, Leonardo Nogueira, Peter D. Wagner, Michael C. Hogan, Daniel Metzger, Ellen C. Breen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

66 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is exercise responsive, pro-angiogenic, and expressed in several muscle cell types. We hypothesized that in adult mice, VEGF generated within skeletal myofibers (and not other cells within muscle) is necessary for the angiogenic response to exercise training. This was tested in adult conditional, skeletal myofiber-specific VEGF gene-deleted mice (skmVEGF-/-), with VEGF levels reduced by >80%. After 8 wk of daily treadmill training, speed and endurance were unaltered in skmVEGF-/- mice, but increased by 18% and 99% (P < 0.01), respectively, in controls trained at identical absolute speed, incline, and duration. In vitro, isolated soleus and extensor digitorum longus contractile function was not impaired in skmVEGF-/- mice. However, training-induced angiogenesis was inhibited in plantaris (wild type, 38%, skmVEGF-/- 18%, P < 0.01), and gastrocnemius (wild type, 43%, P < 0.01; skmVEGF-/-, 7%, not significant). Capillarity was maintained (different from VEGF gene deletion targeted to multiple cell types) in untrained skmVEGF-/- mice. Arteriogenesis (smooth muscle actin+, artery number, and diameter) and remodeling [vimentin+, 5′-bromodeoxycytidine (BrdU)+, and F4/80+ cells] occurred in skmVEGF-/- mice, even in the absence of training. skmVEGF-/- mice also displayed a limited oxidative enzyme [citrate synthase and β-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase (β-HAD)] training response; β-HAD activity levels were elevated in the untrained state. These data suggest that myofiber expressed VEGF is necessary for training responses in capillarity and oxidative capacity and for improved running speed and endurance.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)R586-R595
Number of pages10
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Volume306
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Apr 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Angiogenesis
  • Exercise
  • Metabolism
  • Peripheral vascular disease

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Skeletal myofiber VEGF is essential for the exercise training response in adult mice'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this