[Expression of VEGF protein and mRNA in neonatal rats with hyperoxia-induced lung injury].
OBJECTIVE
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) contributes to lung development and recovery of lung structure from lung injury. This study aimed to explore the changes of expression of VEGF protein and mRNA in neonatal rats following hyperoxic lung injury.


METHODS
Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley neonatal rats were randomly continually exposed to hyperoxia (FiO2=95%) or to room air (FiO2=21%, control group) 30 minutes after birth. VEGF protein and mRNA expression in the lungs was determined by immunohistochemical methods and reverse tanscription polymerasechain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively 3,7 and 14 days after birth.


RESULTS
VEGF protein and mRNA expression increased with increasing postnatal age in the control group. In the hyperoxia exposure group VEGF protein expression decreased markedly at 7 days (7.79+/-5.23 vs 12.67+/-3.82; P<0.01) and 14 days of hyperoxia exposure (5.85+/-3.37 vs 15.10+/-8.91; P<0.01) compared with the controls. VEGF mRNA expression in the hyperoxia exposure group was significantly reduced from 3 days (0.78+/-0.22 vs 1.19+/-0.63) through 14 days of hyperoxia exposure (0.48+/-0.12 vs 1.89+/-0.81) compared with the controls (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF is associated with lung development in neonatal rats. Hyperoxia exposure can decrease VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA expression in the lungs of neonatal rats. VEGF might be involved in the pathogenesis of hyperoxic lung injury.
Hou
Wei
W
Department of Pediatrics, Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China. houweidf@sina.com
Liu
Hai-Yan
HY
Li
Dan
D
Zhou
Jian-Ping
JP
Chen
Xi
X
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D018496:Hyperoxia / Q000150:complications*; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A