Cell type specific expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin-1 and -2 suggests an important role of astrocytes in cerebellar vascularization.
The vascularization of the central nervous system occurs by angiogenic sprouting, a process in which different factors like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin (Ang)-1/2 must act in a coordinated fashion. We investigated how these factors participate in capillarization of the cerebellum, an area experiencing marked reorganization processes during its postnatal development. VEGF and Ang-1 mRNA were predominantly expressed by astrocytes, while Ang-2 mRNA was specifically induced at the tip of invading endothelial cell cords. Similar to the cerebral cortex, vascularization of the cerebellum occurred in an inside-out pattern, following closely the generation and differentiation of each cerebellar layer. VEGF and Ang-1/2 expression patterns shifted in a similar inside-out fashion, supporting their proposed function in vessel growth and maturation.
Acker
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Department of Neuropathology, Erlangen-Nürnberg University Medical School, Erlangen, Germany.
Beck
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Plate
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D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics; D042764:Receptors, TIE; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; C467629:Angpt1 protein, rat; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2; D042764:Receptors, TIE; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor