Carbon dioxide-rich water bathing enhances collateral blood flow in ischemic hindlimb via mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells and activation of NO-cGMP system.

Background: Carbon dioxide-rich water bathing has the effect of vasodilatation, whereas it remains undetermined whether this therapy exerts an angiogenic action associated with new vessel formation.

Methods And Results: Unilateral hindlimb ischemia was induced by resecting the femoral arteries of C57BL/J mice. Lower limbs were immersed in CO2-enriched water (CO2 concentration, 1000 to 1200 mg/L) or freshwater (control) at 37 degrees C for 10 minutes once a day.