Immunolocalization of vascular endothelial growth factor in rat condylar cartilage during postnatal development.
It is well known that angiogenesis is essential for the replacement of cartilage by bone during skeletal growth and regeneration. To address angiogenesis of endochondral ossification in the condyle, we examined the appearance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor Flt-1 in condylar cartilage of the growing rat. The early expression of VEGF at various sites during condylar cartilage development indicates that VEGF plays a role in the regulation of angiogenesis at each site of bone formation. From the findings of Flt-1 immunoreactivity, the VEGF produced by the chondrocytes of the hypertrophic zone should contribute to the promotion of endothelial cell proliferation and to stimulate migration and activation of osteoclasts in condylar cartilage, resulting in the invasion of these cells into the mineralized zone.
Aoyama
Junko
J
Department of Orthodontics and Craniofacial Developmental Biology, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, 734-8553 Hiroshima, Japan.
Tanaka
Eiji
E
Miyauchi
Mutsumi
M
Takata
Takashi
T
Hanaoka
Koichi
K
Hattori
Yukiko
Y
Sasaki
Akiko
A
Watanabe
Mineo
M
Tanne
Kazuo
K
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002356:Cartilage / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000378:metabolism
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1