title: Superior cervical ganglionectomy induces changes in growth factor expression in the rat retina.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether sympathetic nerves regulate expression of known angiogenic growth factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical sympathectomy (SNX) was used to remove sympathetic innervation to the eye. Real-time PCR was used to measure steady state mRNA expression of VEGF, VEGFR-2, angiopoietin-1, and Tie2. Western blot analysis was performed to assess protein expression. Blood-retinal barrier (BRB) permeability surface area product (PS) was measured using enhanced MRI on a separate group of control and SNX rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  mRNA of both VEGF and VEGFR-2 decreased significantly at 6 weeks after SNX. VEGF protein expression also decreased significantly. VEGFR-2 protein was unchanged. Both angiopoietin-1 and Tie2 mRNA expression increased significantly after SNX. Immunoblot analysis showed that angiopoietin-1 protein expression coincided with its mRNA expression. Tie2 protein expression was unaffected. Sympathetic denervation did not significantly increase BRB PS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical SNX results in a reduction in VEGF gene and protein expression, while increasing protein expression of Ang-1. These findings suggest that sympathetic nerves regulate the expression of angiogenic growth factors in rat retina.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Luke A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wiley
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Berkowitz
authors.forename: Jena J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Steinle
mesh_terms: D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001813:Blood-Retinal Barrier; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D015171:Ganglionectomy; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2