Vascular endothelial growth factor improves recovery of sensorimotor and cognitive deficits after focal cerebral ischemia in the rat

Yaoming Wang, Veronica Galvan, Olivia Gorostiza, Marina Ataie, Kunlin Jin, David A. Greenberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenesis factor with neurotrophic, neuroprotective and neuroproliferative effects. Depending on the dose, route and time of administration in relation to focal cerebral ischemia, VEGF can improve histological outcome and sensorimotor function in rodents. However, VEGF also increases vascular permeability, which can lead to brain edema and exacerbate ischemic brain injury. Thus, although VEGF is a candidate therapeutic for stroke and other ischemic disorders, its benefit relative to risk is uncertain. Considering that functional rather than histological measures of outcome are probably most relevant to therapeutic prospects for human stroke, we investigated the effects of VEGF after middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats using a series of behavioral tests. We report that VEGF improves functional outcome in ischemic rats, including both sensorimotor and cognitive deficiencies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)186-193
Number of pages8
JournalBrain Research
Volume1115
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 18 Oct 2006

Keywords

  • Memory
  • Stroke
  • VEGF

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