The Effect of Pentoxiphylline, a non-specific phospodiesterase inhibitor, on Angiogenesis in Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) Model

Abstract

Objectives: Based on a neovascularization study conducted using specific phosphodiesterase inhibitors in the literature, the aim of the present study was to answer the question "As specific phosphodiesterase inhibitors have positive or negative effects on angiogenesis, what kind of an effect does pentoxiphylline, which is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, have on angiogenesis?" by using chorioallantoic membrane model. Material and Methods: In this study we investigated the effects of a vasodilating agent, Pentoxifylline (Trental (R) 300mg/15 ml, Sanofi aventis Ilaclari Limited Sirketi (R), Istanbul) on angiogenesis. Pentoxifylline was used in the form of soluble infusion. We studied the sequence of the vascular events after Pentoxifylline in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane at day 9 of development. Using stereoscopic microscope (Leica EZ4D), we monitored the regrowth of capillaries in the Pentoxifylline treated area. Results: Pentoxiphylline has no effect on angiogenesis in chicken chorioallantoic membrane model. Conclusion: According to our literature review, this is the first study using chicken chorioallantoic membrane model in studying effect of Pentoxifylline on angiogenesis. Although Pentoxifylline has been reported to have no antiangiogenic effect in some studies using different in vivo models, our study has shown that Pentoxifylline does not have any effect on angiogenesis. For this reason, we believe this effect of Pentoxifylline should be studied in more details using different in vivo models in future studies and effects of specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor 1, 2 and 3 on angiogenesis should be studied by chicken chorioallantoic membrane model to better understand the effect of Pentoxifylline.