Expression of increased vascular endothelial growth factor in gastric mucosa of portal hypertensive rats

Objective To explore the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in gastric mucosa of portal hypertensive and sham-operated rats.Methods 28 of male sprague dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups:portal hypertensive gastropathy (test group)of 16 and control group of 12.Fourteen days after a portal ligation or sham operation,the portal venous pressure was measured with physiology recorder,and the gastric mucosal blood flow volume was measured with the neutral red clearance method.The expression of VEGF in gastric mucosal specimens was immunohistochemically assessed.Results The portal pressure in the test group rats was significantly greater than that in the control group(P0.01);Gastric mucosal blood flow in the test group was significantly greater than in the control group(P0.05);The positive cells of VEGF increased obviously and level of VEGF protein in gastric organs was significantly higher in test group than that in control group(P0.05).Conclusion The increased activity of VEGF may thus plays a role in gastric mucosal lesion of portal hypertensive rats.