Administration of bone marrow cells into surgically induced fibrocollagenous tunnels induces angiogenesis in ischemic rat hindlimb model.

We established a comparative model of angiogenic induction in previously formed fibrocollagenous tunnels in rat inner thigh muscles. A unilateral hindlimb chronic ischemia model was performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats. A device was then inserted in the central portion of the inner thigh muscles. Vascularity in the ischemic limb was determined by means of an angiographic score, capillary/fiber ratio, and endothelial proliferation by histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Autologous transplant of bone marrow, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), or collagen-polyvinylpyrrolidone plus heparin induced significant vascularization of the ischemic hindlimb when compared to saline solution. However, the bone marrow group presented a higher angiographic score than the other two. No differences among groups were observed in capillary/fiber ratio or proliferation, except for the VEGF group, where capillary proliferating cells were significantly higher than in controls. Based on these results, bone marrow-derived progenitor cells may constitute a safe and viable alternative for the induction of therapeutic angiogenesis.