Vascularization of pancreas in diabetic rats after VEGF injection

• Grant number: 09/13153-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2010
• Effective date (End): February 29, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Paula de Carvalho Papa Keohane
• Grantee: Vanessa Uemura da Fonseca
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

There is an increasing number of people and pets showing overweight and obesity, with a consequent growth of the number of insulin-resistant and diabetic pacients, which constitutes a world problem of public health. The chronicle hyperglycemia has adverse effects over pancreatic islets causing glucose desensitization, ²-cells exhaustion and reduction of insulin secretion and storage content. Hyperglycemia shows also a duble effect over ²-cells: initially as proliferation enhancer followed by long term apoptosis inducer. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been characterized as an important molecule in many physiopathological states. Recent studies indicate a reduction in VEGF content in some tissues of diabetic patients causing tissue hypoxia and impairing cicatrisation. In this context, the characterization of VEGF expression in this context becomes an important step toward the elucidation of diabetes mellitus physiopathogeny. During our investigation we will focus on gene therapy to better understand the role of VEGF in this organ. Forty two adult male Wistar rats will be divided into two experimental groups: the healthy and the diabetic group, which will develop obesity-induced DM after receiving a hypercaloric diet for six months. Methods used for evaluation of VEGF and receptors´expression as well as effects of VEGF transfection to pancreatic cells will be mainly immunohistochemistry, real time PCR and gene therapy. Data will be analyzed through the statistical program Minitab® using Student-t test to compare healthy and diabetic groups and p value of 0.05 will be considered to detect differences between groups.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

FONSECA, Vanessa Uemura da. Vascularization of pancreas in diabetic mice after VEGF injection. 2012. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ/SBD) São Paulo.