Hypercholesterolemia Inhibits Angiogenesis in Response to Hindlimb Ischemia : Nitric Oxide-Dependent Mechanism

Abstract

Collateral vessel formation and angiogenesis in response to hindlimb ischemia were significantly attenuated in rats with dietary HC. The mechanism may be related to the reduced NO bioactivity in the ischemic tissues. Augmentation of the tissue NO activity by oral L-arginine supplementation restored the impaired angiogenesis in HC.