Increased protein and mRNA expression of endostatin in the ischemic brain tissue of rabbits after middle cerebral artery occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the changes of endostatin (a strong anti-angiogenesis factor) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the brain tissues of rabbits following cerebral ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).


METHODS
Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups: control (n = 5), sham-operation (n = 4), 2-hour ischemia (n = 5), 24-hour ischemia (n = 5), and 48-hour ischemia (n = 5). The expression of VEGF and endostatin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In situ hybridization was used to characterize the expression of mRNA for the endostatin.


RESULTS
Both the protein (at least 50%, P < 0.01) and mRNA (at least 70%, P < 0.05) of endostatin increased significantly in the ischemic brain tissues after MCAO compared with the control group. VEGF increased at least 270% in the brain after cerebral ischemia (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Cerebral ischemia leads to an up-regulation of endostatin in the brain, which is not associated with the increase of VEGF in the brain. The increase of endostatin may serve as a deleterious mechanism for ischemic injury through blocking angiogenesis.
Tian
Heng-Li
HL
Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
Chen
Hao
H
Cui
Yu-Hui
YH
Xu
Tao
T
Zhou
Liang-Fu
LF
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000378:metabolism; D043169:Endostatins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D043169:Endostatins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A