title: Vasoactive intestinal peptide administration after stroke in rats enhances neurogenesis and improves neurological function.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on neurogenesis and neurological function after cerebral ischemia. Rats were intracerebroventricular administered with VIP after a 2h middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and sacrificed at 7, 14 and 28 days after MCAO. Functional outcome was studied with the modified neurological severity score. The infarct volume was evaluated via histology. Neurogenesis, angiogenesis and the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analysis, respectively. The treatment with VIP significantly reduced the neurological severity score and the infarc volume, and increased the numbers of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunoreactive cells and doublecortin immunoreactive area in the subventricular zone (SVZ) at 7, 14 and 28 days after ischemia. The cerebral protein levels of VEGF and VEGF expression in the SVZ were also enhanced in VIP-treated rats at 7 days after stroke. VIP treatment obviously increased the number of BrdU positive endothelial cells in the SVZ and density of cerebral microvessels in the ischemic boundary at 28 days after ischemia. Our study suggests that in the ischemic rat brain VIP reduces brain damage and promotes neurogenesis by increasing VEGF. VIP-enhanced neurogenesis is associated with angiogenesis. These changes may contribute to improvement in functional outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China. Electronic address: yangjie@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Dong
authors.initials: QD
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, NO. 1 Hospital of Xi'an City, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710002, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Gai-Feng
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Xi'an Electronic Engineering Research Institute, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710100, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Chang-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Zong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; C000714848:Dcx protein, rat; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine
keywords: Angiogenesis; Cerebral infarction; Functional recovery; Middle cerebral artery occlusion; Neurogenesis; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vasoactive intestinal peptide