title: Neuroprotective effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) upon dopaminergic neurons in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has previously been shown to display neuroprotective effects following ischemia, suggesting that VEGF may potentially be applied as a neuroprotective agent for the treatment of other neurological diseases. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective capacity of VEGF in a model of Parkinson's disease. VEGF was found to be neuroprotective against cell death of primary E14 murine ventral mesencephalic neurons induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) treatment in vitro. Further, rats receiving a continuous infusion of VEGF into the striatum via encapsulated hVEGF-secreting cells (baby hamster kidney-VEGF) displayed a significant decrease in amphetamine-induced rotational behavior and a significant preservation of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons and fibers compared with control animals. VEGF likely functions via direct mechanisms by signaling through the neuropilin receptor expressed upon dopaminergic neurons in response to 6-OHDA treatment. Further, VEGF is likely to promote neuroprotection indirectly by activating the proliferation of glia and by promoting angiogenesis. Our results support a potential neuroprotective role for VEGF in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Okayama, Japan. tyasu37@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasuhara
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shingo
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Akimasa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: Kenichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muraoka
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyoshi
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Date
mesh_terms: D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D002214:Capsules; D002452:Cell Count; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000379:methods; D007668:Kidney; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000379:methods; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D039921:Neuropilins / Q000378:metabolism; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000633:toxicity; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D040121:Semaphorin-3A / Q000378:metabolism; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D019737:Transplants; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D002214:Capsules; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D007797:Laminin; D039921:Neuropilins; D040121:Semaphorin-3A; D014404:Tubulin; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016627:Oxidopamine; D000661:Amphetamine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D004298:Dopamine