Developmental expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the masseter muscle of rats

Developmental changes in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rat m asseter after birth were investigated. VEGF was extracted efficiently and r eproducibly from muscle homogenate with low concentrations of non-ionic det ergents, such as Triton X-100, Nonidet P-40, and Tween 20. The amount of VE GF measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) increased markedly by approximately 9-fold, from day 8 to 35 after birth. The increase in VEG F was closely correlated with the development of the capillary network, as shown by the capillary to muscle fibre ratio (C/F ratio). Immunoblotting re vealed that the predominant molecular species of VEGF concentrated with hep arin-sepharose beads was VEGF(188). These results suggest that VEGF plays a n important part in the development and maintenance of the capillary networ k in the rat masseter. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.