Expression of the VEGF gene family during retinal vaso-obliteration and hypoxia

Vascular insufficiency and retinal ischaemia precede many proliferative ret inopathies and stimulate secretion of vasoactive growth factors. Vascular e ndothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a major role and we therefore investi gated the other members of the VEGF family: Placental growth factor (P1GF), VEGF-B, -C, and -D, and platelet derived growth factors (PDGF) A and B. Ne onatal mice were exposed to hyperoxia for 5 days and then returned to room air (resulting in acute retinal ischaemia). RT-PCR demonstrated that all th e members of the VEGF family are expressed in the retina and in situ hybrid ization (ISH) located their mRNAs primarily in ganglion cells. Similarly to VEGF itself, VEGF-C, PDGF-A, and PDGF-B were upregulated during retinal is chaemia (P < 0.05). Only P1GF gene expression increased during hyperoxia (P < 0.01). The expression pattern of these growth factors suggests a role in the normal retina and during vasoobliterative and ischaemic phases. (C) 19 99 Academic Press.