Table 1.

Different approaches that could increase vascular density in DMD model animals.

Approach	Age of mice at treatment onset	Outcome	References
VEGF overexpression via AAV gene transfer in mdx mice	4 weeks	Increased capillary density in regenerating areas	Messina et al., 2007
		Reduced necrotic fiber areas
		Increased regenerative fiber areas
		Increased forelimb strength
VEGF overexpression via muscle-derived stem cell (MDSC) transplantation into mdx/scid mice	8–10 weeks	Increase in angiogenesis	Deasy et al., 2009
		Increase in muscle regeneration
		Reduction in fibrosis
Genetic modulation of VEGF receptor (Flt-1) level in mdx and mdx/utrn−/− mice	2–3 months	Increased vascular density	Verma et al., 2010
		Decreased muscle membrane permeability
		Less area of fibrosis and calcification
		Decreased centrally located nuclei
		Increased tissue perfusion
		Improved maximum isometric force and whole-body tension analysis
Overexpression of estrogen-related receptor-γ (ERRγ)	6–8 weeks	Enhanced vasculature and blood flow	Matsakas et al., 2013
		Increased number of oxidative myofibers
		Improved exercise tolerance
Mesoangioblast transplantation into the heart of mdx/utrn−/− mice	4–6 weeks	Prevented onset of cardiomyopathy	Chun et al., 2013
		Increased capillary in the heart
Treatment with aspirin	4 weeks (treatment continued for 7 months)	Increased vascular density	Palladino et al., 2013
		Decreased muscle membrane permeability
		Less area of fibrosis
		Increased numbers of regenerating fibers
		Increased tissue perfusion
		Improved resistance to physical exercise