Abstract 14341: Targeted Delivery of Fibroblast Growth Factor-1 by Ultrasound-targeted Microbubble Destruction Reduces Myocyte Apoptosis and Myocardial Fibrosis and Improves Ventricular Systolic and Diastolic Function in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy in Rats

We sought to pursue the hypothesis that fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) facilitates tissue repair, angiogenesis, and cardiac functional improvement in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) by targeted delivery of FGF-1 using an ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) strategy. METHODS: A total of 60 SD rats were randomized into 5 groups. DCM was induced by intra-peritoneal injection of streptozotocin. Targeted delivery of FGF-1 was achieved by intravenous injection of FGF-1, SonoVue (Bracco Diagnostics Inc. Princeton, NJ) and simultaneous transthoracic ultrasound irradiation of the myocardium. Group assignments were: Group 1 (Control), Group 2 (DCM/no treatment), Group 3 (DCM/FGF-1 only); Group 4 (DCM/FGF-1+SonoVue only), and Group 5 (DCM/FGF-1+SonoVue+ultrasound irradiation). Four weeks after treatment, the animals were evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography for left ventricular (LV) fractional shortening (FS), catheterization for LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and dp/dtmax; Masson staining...