Assessment of the effects of ischaemia/ hypoxia on angiogenesis in rat myofascial trigger points using colour Doppler flow imaging

PeerJ

article

Fangyan Jiang¹  Shuangcheng Yu²  Haiqing Su³  Shangyong Zhu¹ 

[1] Department of Medical Ultrasound, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University;Department of Radiology, Affiliated Minzu Hospital of Guangxi Medical University;Department of Medical Ultrasound, Affiliated Minzu Hospital of Guangxi Medical University

关键词: Myofascial trigger points;    Ischemia / hypoxic;    Angiogenesis;    Ultrasound;    Colour Doppler flow imaging;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.10481

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Background & AimsMyofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a common non-articular disorder of the musculoskeletal system that is characterized by the presence of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). Despite the high prevalence of MPS, its pathogenesis, which induces the onset and maintenance of MTrPs, is still not completely understood. To date, no studies have investigated the changes in the biochemical milieu caused by ischaemia/hypoxia in the MTrP regions of muscle that are proposed in the integrated hypothesis. Therefore, this study investigated whether ischaemic/hypoxic conditions participate in the formation of active MTrPs and affect angiogenesis using colour Doppler flow imaging (CDFI).MethodsTwenty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a model group and a normal control group. A model of active MTrPs was established by a blunt strike combined with eccentric exercise. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were employed to detect the levels of HIF-1α and VEGF. Microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. CDFI was applied to observe the blood flow signals in the MTrPs, which were classified into four grades based on their strengths.ResultsCompared with the control group, the active MTrP group exhibited significantly higher HIF-1α and VEGF levels and MVD values. These differences were accompanied by increased blood flow signals. In the active MTrP group, the blood flow signal grade was positively correlated with the MVD (P < 0.05) and independently correlated with the VEGF level (P < 0.05) but was not correlated with the expression of HIF-1α (P 0.05).ConclusionIschaemic/hypoxic conditions may be involved in the formation of MTrPs. CDFI is useful for detection of the features of angiogenesis in or surrounding MTrPs via assessment of blood flow signals.

【 授权许可】

CC BY