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(Circulation. 2001;104:358.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.

Basic Science Reports

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-B–Deficient Mice Display an Atrial Conduction Defect

Karin Aase, PhD; Gabriel von Euler, PhD; Xuri Li, PhD; Annica Pontén, MS; Peter Thorén, MD, PhD; Renhai Cao, PhD; Yihai Cao, MD, PhD; Birgitta Olofsson, PhD; Samuel Gebre-Medhin, PhD; Milos Pekny, MD, PhD; Kari Alitalo, MD, PhD; Christer Betsholtz, MD, PhD; Ulf Eriksson, PhD

From the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Stockholm Branch (K.A., G.v.E., X.L., A.P., B.O., U.E.); the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Integrative Cardiovascular Physiology (P.T.) and Microbiology and Tumorbiology Center, Section of Angiogenesis Research (Y.C.), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm; and the Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Göteborg, Göteborg (S.G.-M., M.P., C.B.), Sweden; and the Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (K.A.).

Correspondence to Ulf Eriksson, PhD, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Stockholm Branch, Box 240, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. E-mail ueri{at}licr.ki.se

Background— Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and their receptors are essential regulators of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in both embryos and adults. One of the factors with a still unknown physiological function is VEGF-B, which is expressed in many tissues, including the heart.

Methods and Results— Mice carrying a targeted deletion in the VEGF-B gene were developed. In VEGF-B^-/- animals, no gross abnormalities were observed in organs that normally show high expression of VEGF-B, such as the heart, muscle, and kidney. Analysis of heart function by ECG showed that adult VEGF-B^-/- mice have an atrial conduction abnormality characterized by a prolonged PQ interval. VEGF- or basic fibroblast growth factor–induced corneal angiogenesis was similar in normal and VEGF-B^-/- mice.

Conclusions— VEGF-B seems to be required for normal heart function in adult animals but is not required for proper development of the cardiovascular system either during development or for angiogenesis in adults.

Key Words: growth substances • angiogenesis • electrocardiography • atrium • conduction

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