Sustained release formulations of rhVEGF₁₆₅ produce a durable response in a murine model of peripheral angiogenesis.

Local delivery of therapeutic angiogenic agents that stimulate blood vessel formation represents a promising strategy for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). At present, requirements for temporal and spatial parameters for localized delivery are unclear, with a variety of sustained delivery approaches being examined. Two polymer-based sustained formulations containing the 165 amino acid isoform of human recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor-A (rhVEGF(165)) were evaluated for their potential application in the treatment of PVD following intramuscular injection.

Stanniocalcin 1 alters muscle and bone structure and function in transgenic mice.

Fish stanniocalcin (STC) inhibits uptake of calcium and stimulates phosphate reabsorption. To determine the role of the highly homologous mammalian protein, STC-1, we created and characterized transgenic mice that express STC-1 under control of a muscle-specific promoter. STC-1 transgenic mice were smaller than wild-type littermates and had normal growth plate cartilage morphology but increased cartilage matrix synthesis.