Expression Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor In Injured Spinal Cord And Its Therapeutic Effect On Spinal Cord Injury

OBJECT: To investigate the time course of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and its receptor(Flt-l, Flk-l)expression in rats spinal cord following acute injury . METHODS :The spinal cord injury(SCI) model was made by modulated Allen's weight drop method. The expressions of VEGF and Flt-1, Flk-lwas assayed by using immunohistochemical staining . RESULTS: At 12h after the injury , VEGF expression were induced by acute injury in vascular endothelial cells of pial and intramedullary vessels ;in astrocytes.mainly from the white matter;and in intramedullary macrophages. peaked at 1 day, and maintained to 3d. At 7d after the injury, the expression decreased. Flt-1 , Flk-1 expression were upregulated at 12h after the injury, peaked at 24h, At 7d after the injury, the expression decreased.The expression was mainly in astrocytes, secondly in vascular endothelial cells and macrophages .The positive cells of Flk-1 were more than of Flt-1. CONCLUSIONS:Acute injury could induced the expressions of VEGF and VEGFR.VEGF and VEGFR may play an important role in acute spinal cord injury by the maintenance and induction of growth of vascular endothelial cells.