[Expression and significance of vascular endothelial growth factor in rat cornea after cautery with alkali].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rat cornea after cautery with alkali.


METHODS
In Sprague-Dawley rats, inflammatory corneal neovascularization was induced by cautery with alkali. VEGF was detected in corneal samples at different times by Western-blot, and immunohistochemistry method was used to investigate the distribution of VEGF at rat cornea after cautery with alkali.


RESULTS
The normal rat corneas did not express VEGF. The expression of VEGF increased with time after corneal cautery. The rat corneas were infiltrated by massive inflammatory cells that, especially adjacent to the cautery lesion, showed staining for VEGF.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF production by inflammatory cells participates in inflammatory angiogenesis in rat corneas. VEGF has the effects on the induction and supporting of cautery-induced angiogenesis in rat cornea.
Qiu
Peijin
P
Eye Center, Affiliated Second Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Yao
Ke
K
Zhu
Lijun
L
Zhou
Caiyun
C
Cheng
Jian
J
D000468:Alkalies / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D002425:Cautery; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism*; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D000468:Alkalies; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors