Vitreous vascular endothelial growth factor level during gestation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the vitreous VEGF level alterations and its correlation with its plasma level if any, in gestation.


METHODS
The blood and vitreous sampling procedures were performed before, during (20-23 days of gestation), and after gestation (2 months after birth) from seven White New Zealand rabbits. Blood samples were centrifuged then supernatants and vitreous samples were stored at -80 degrees C until assay. Measurements of serum and vitreous VEGF(165) were done by ELISA.


RESULTS
The median plasma and vitreous VEGF(165) concentrations were 36.61 pg/ml (range 19.17-40.30), 14.92 pg/ml (range 8.95-15.20); 58.30 pg/ml (range 32.60-11.53), 20.51 pg/ml (range 11.94-21.26); and 35.30 pg/ml (range 27.30-39.60), 13.05 pg/ml (range 9.33-16.04) before, during and after gestation, respectively. Both the plasma and the vitreous VEGF(165) concentration during gestational period were significantly higher than pre-gestational period (P = 0.028, P = 0.018) and post-gestational period (P = 0.043, P = 0.028). The intravitreal VEGF(165 )concentrations appeared to correlate with plasma VEGF(165) levels (r = 0.940, P = 0.002) only in the gestational period.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitreous VEGF levels increase in positive correlation with plasma VEGF during pregnancy. Further prospective studies are needed to support this finding.
Türkçüoğlu
Ilgin
I
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inönü University School of Medicine, 44100 Malatya, Turkey. dr.ilgin@yahoo.com
Türkçüoğlu
Peykan
P
Karabulut
Aysun Bay
AB
Taşar
Ahmet
A
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A