No CrossRef data available.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 September 2012
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) constitute a leading cause of death in the aged population. Regular intake of hyperlipidic diet and obesity can induce endothelial dysfunction that precedes the onset of atherosclerosis and CVD. High-fat diet regular consumption leads to structural modifications in heart tissue, and changes in the expression of angiogenic factors and their specific receptors. Hence, we aimed to characterize the expression pattern of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its membrane receptor VEGFR 2 in young and aged rat hearts under high-fat diet and energy restriction.