Background/Aims: To establish a potential correlation between renal and
systemic production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein
after prolonged ischemia in a renal ablation model under normothermic
and hypothermic conditions. Methods: 38 uninephrectomized New Zealand
rabbits were divided into 5 groups. The rabbits of each group underwent
partial nephrectomy under 90 and 60 min of warm and 90 and 120 min of
cold ischemia, except for the sham group (S), which served as control.
Serum creatinine (SCr) and blood-urea-nitrogen (BUN) levels were
assessed. On the 15th postoperative day (POD), the animals were
euthanized and the remaining kidneys were evaluated. VEGF
immunohistochemistry and serum Western blot analysis were performed.
Results: In comparison to the control group, groups 60W, 90C and 120C
showed 1.6-, 1.14- and 1.75-fold decreases, respectively, while the
production of VEGF was significantly declined by 7.4-fold in group 90W
(p < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry revealed prominent VEGF staining in the
above-mentioned three groups, while in group 90W staining was negative.
Serum biochemistry and microscopic evaluation verified the same
differentiation. Conclusion: Renal and serum VEGF seem to have an
analogous expression under conditions of prolonged ischemia. VEGF is
overexpressed in hypothermic conditions compared to warm ischemia
exceeding 60 min. Hypothermia can be more advantageous in a procedure
applying prolonged ischemia. Copyright (C) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel
