Premium
The Effects of Topical Icing After Contusion Injury on Angiogenesis in Regenerating Skeletal Muscle
Author(s) -
Peake Jonathan,
Singh Daniel,
Barani Lonbani Zohreh,
Woodruff Mia,
Steck Roland
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.826.5
Subject(s) - angiogenesis , medicine , skeletal muscle , saline , pathology , von willebrand factor , vascular endothelial growth factor , biceps , anatomy , anesthesia , vegf receptors , platelet
We investigated the effects of topical icing after muscle contusion injury on angiogenesis in regenerating skeletal muscle. Male Wistar rats were subjected to contusion injury by dropping a cylindrical‐shaped weight (370 g) on the biceps femoris muscle of one leg. Within 5 min after injury, a block of ice (contained within a paper cup) was applied to the skin surrounding the muscle for 20 min. Control groups received no ice treatment. The rats were euthanized at 1, 3, 7 and 28 days post‐injury (n=24 per time point). In 12 rats in each group, a punch biopsy (diameter: 8 mm) was taken from the region of injury and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Tissue sections (5 μm) were then mounted on glass slides for immunohistochemical analysis of CD68+ macrophages, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and von Willebrand's factor (vWF). After euthanasia, the others rats in each group were flushed with heparinized saline, and then perfused with a radio‐opaque contrast agent using an infusion pump. Muscle biopsies were also collected from these rats, and analyzed to determine blood vessel volume and number using high resolution micro computed tomography. Macrophage numbers were lower at all time points, VEGF expression and vessel number were lower at 3 days and vWF expression and vessel volume were lower at 3 and 7 days post‐injury in the icing group versus the non‐icing group (p<0.05). By contrast, VEGF expression and vessel number were higher at 28 days post‐injury in the icing group versus the non‐icing group (p<0.05). In conclusion, topical icing suppressed inflammation but also delayed angiogenesis in regenerating muscle. These findings challenge the practice of using ice to treat muscle injuries.