Effect of VEGF on Inﬂammatory Regulation, Neural Survival, and Functional Improvement in Rats following a Complete Spinal Cord Transection

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 2017 · DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00381 · Published: November 29, 2017

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in spinal cord injury recovery in rats. Researchers compared the effects of VEGF on neonatal (P1) and adult (P28) rats after complete spinal cord transection. VEGF levels were found to be higher in neonatal rats compared to adult rats after spinal cord transection. Administering VEGF to adult rats improved functional recovery, while inhibiting VEGF in neonatal rats slowed down recovery. The study suggests VEGF is a crucial factor in functional recovery after spinal cord transection, influencing inflammation, neuronal survival, and neural circuit reorganization. It may be a potential target for clinical therapy.

Study Duration

2 Months

Participants

342 P1 and P28 female Sprague Dawley rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
VEGF levels are significantly higher in neonatal rats (P1) compared to adult rats (P28) after complete spinal cord transection.
2
VEGF treatment in adult rats (P28) with spinal cord transection significantly improved functional recovery.
3
VEGF inhibition in neonatal rats (P1) with spinal cord transection slowed down spontaneous functional recovery.

Research Summary

This study investigates the role of VEGF in functional recovery after complete spinal cord transection (ST) in neonatal and adult rats. The research found that VEGF levels are higher in neonates after ST, correlating with their spontaneous locomotor recovery. The study demonstrates that VEGF administration in adult rats with ST improves functional recovery by alleviating neuronal loss and improving neural network reorganization. Conversely, VEGF inhibition in neonates worsened these outcomes. The findings suggest that VEGF is a critical mediator in functional recovery after ST, influencing inflammation, neuronal survival, and spinal neural circuit reorganization through the MAPK/Erk1/2 signaling pathway, making it a potential therapeutic target for spinal cord injury.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Target

VEGF can be considered a potential therapeutic target for spinal cord injury.

Inflammation Control

VEGF regulates spinal inflammatory responses, suggesting its potential in controlling inflammation post-injury.

Neuronal Survival

VEGF promotes neuronal survival, offering a pathway to reduce neuronal death after spinal cord injury.

Study Limitations

1
Clinical efficacy, including optimal therapeutic dose and treatment time, could not be determined under animal experimental conditions.
2
Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying upstream or downstream in MAPK/Erk1/2 signaling molecules that are associated with the protective eﬀects of VEGF in rats after SCI.
3
Overally, VEGF may be a candidate for development of therapeutic agents for SCI.

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