Time-course expression of vascular endothelial growth factor as related to the development of the retinochoroidal vasculature in rats

• Published in: Experimental brain research Vol. 118; no. 2; pp. 155 - 160
• Main Authors: YI, X, MAI, L.-C, UYAMA, M, YEW, D. T. W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.01.1998
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Choroid - blood supply; Choroid - embryology; Choroid - growth & development; Endothelial Growth Factors - analysis; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization; Lymphokines - analysis; Permeability; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Retinal Vessels - chemistry; Retinal Vessels - embryology; Retinal Vessels - growth & development; Time Factors; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Rat; Rodentia; Pigment epithelium; Choroid; Retina; Gene expression; Eye; Visual system; Angiogenesis; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Vascular endothelium growth factor; Blood vessel; Development
• ISSN: 0014-4819; 1432-1106
• DOI: 10.1007/s002210050267

Growth factors involved in angiogenesis are critical to both the normal and pathological vascular development in the retina and choroid. In the present experiment, the relationship between the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and the retinochoroidal vasculogenesis in Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. It was found that VEGF was produced mainly by astrocytes and Muller cells in the neural retina, and this was correlated temporally and spatially with the retinal vasculogenesis. In addition, it was observed that, although the VEGF expression in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) decreased with increasing age, it persisted from the embryonic stage to adulthood. These findings indicate that the VEGF expression in RPE may play a role in the development of the choroidal vessels as well as in the maintenance of the normal structure and permeability of the choriocapillaris in adults.