PURPOSE: To determine whether sympathetic nerves regulate expression of known angiogenic growth factors. METHODS: Surgical sympathectomy (SNX) was used to remove sympathetic innervation to the eye. Real-time PCR was used to measure steady state mRNA expression of VEGF, VEGFR-2, angiopoietin-1, and Tie2. Western blot analysis was performed to assess protein expression. Blood-retinal barrier (BRB) permeability surface area product (PS) was measured using enhanced MRI on a separate group of control and SNX rats. RESULTS: mRNA of both VEGF and VEGFR-2 decreased significantly at 6 weeks after SNX. VEGF protein expression also decreased significantly. VEGFR-2 protein was unchanged. Both angiopoietin-1 and Tie2 mRNA expression increased significantly after SNX. Immunoblot analysis showed that angiopoietin-1 protein expression coincided with its mRNA expression. Tie2 protein expression was unaffected. Sympathetic denervation did not significantly increase BRB PS. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical SNX results in a reduction in VEGF gene and protein expression, while increasing protein expression of Ang-1. These findings suggest that sympathetic nerves regulate the expression of angiogenic growth factors in rat retina.
PURPOSE: To determine whether sympathetic nerves regulate expression of known angiogenic growth factors. METHODS: Surgical sympathectomy (SNX) was used to remove sympathetic innervation to the eye. Real-time PCR was used to measure steady state mRNA expression of VEGF, VEGFR-2, angiopoietin-1, and Tie2. Western blot analysis was performed to assess protein expression. Blood-retinal barrier (BRB) permeability surface area product (PS) was measured using enhanced MRI on a separate group of control and SNX rats. RESULTS: mRNA of both VEGF and VEGFR-2 decreased significantly at 6 weeks after SNX. VEGF protein expression also decreased significantly. VEGFR-2 protein was unchanged. Both angiopoietin-1 and Tie2 mRNA expression increased significantly after SNX. Immunoblot analysis showed that angiopoietin-1 protein expression coincided with its mRNA expression. Tie2 protein expression was unaffected. Sympathetic denervation did not significantly increase BRB PS. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical SNX results in a reduction in VEGF gene and protein expression, while increasing protein expression of Ang-1. These findings suggest that sympathetic nerves regulate the expression of angiogenic growth factors in rat retina.
Authors: Jena J Steinle; Sheena Sharma; Christopher P Smith; Lisa S McFayden-Ketchum Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2009-01-30 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Juan Carlos Martinez-Camarillo; Christine K Spee; Gloria Paulina Trujillo-Sanchez; Anthony Rodriguez; David R Hinton; Alessandra Giarola; Victor Pikov; Arun Sridhar; Mark S Humayun; Andrew C Weitz Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2022-01-10 Impact factor: 4.677