Changes of VEGF expression in the ischemic penumbra of rats with focal cerebral ischemia after intravenous thrombolytic therapy

ObjectiveTo study the changes of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)expression in the ischemic penumbra of rats with focal cerebral ischemia after intravenous thrombolytic therapy(IVTT).MethodsEight adult Spraque-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups,i.e.,model group and IVTT group.The rats in each group were then redivided into five subgroups,with each subgroup of 8 rats.The rat model was made by embolising middle cerebral artery with an autologous thrombus.The rats in IVTT group received intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator(10 mg/kg)2 hours after embolism.The rats in model group received equal volume of physiological saline.The expression of VEGF in the ischemic penumbra was detected by western blotting 6,9,12,24 and 30 hours after embolism.ResultsThe level of VEGF expression significantly increased both in IVTT group and model group when the time increased(P0.05).Besides 9 hours after embolism,the levels of VEGF expression in IVTT group were significantly higher than those in model group at other time points(P0.05).ConclusionsThe VEGF expressions increase in the ischemic penumbra after the middle cerebral arteries of rats were embolized with autologous thrombus.The IVTT can promote the VEGF expression in the ischemic penumbra.