title: Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 and -2 in normal and diseased canine eyes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To immunohistochemically evaluate expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR1) and -2 (VEGFR2) in ocular tissue of healthy dogs and dogs affected with primary glaucoma, uveitic glaucoma, and intraocular neoplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enucleated globes from five dogs with primary glaucoma, five dogs with uveitic glaucoma, six dogs with intraocular neoplasms and three ophthalmically normal control dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ocular tissues were obtained from enucleated globes of clinical cases or immediately following euthanasia for control dogs. Tissue sections were stained immunohistochemically for VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 via standard techniques and vascular tissue was qualitatively evaluated. Vascular endothelial VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 expression patterns are reported for normal and diseased ocular tissues. In addition, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 expression patterns are reported for all normal ocular tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A constitutive expression pattern was detected for VEGFR1 by ocular vascular endothelial cells as well as nonvascular cells in the cornea, uvea, lens, and retina. VEGFR2 demonstrated limited expression in normal ocular tissue, but was widely expressed in vascular endothelium of diseased eyes, particularly in pre-iridal fibrovascular membranes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest a role for VEGF receptors in both physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis in canine ocular tissue. Manipulation of this pathway may be a rational consideration for therapeutic intervention in canine ocular disease exhibiting pathologic neovascularization.
authors: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. danbinder1@gmail.com
authors: Daniel R
authors: DR
authors: Binder
authors: Ian P
authors: IP
authors: Herring
authors: Kurt L
authors: KL
authors: Zimmerman
authors: J Phillip
authors: JP
authors: Pickett
authors: William R
authors: WR
authors: Huckle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism*; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2