VEGF enhances angiogenesis and promotes blood-brain barrier leakage in the ischemic brain

• DOI: 10.1172/jci9369
• Publication Date: 2008-02-19T19:08:28Z
• Authors: Zheng Gang Zhang; Li Zhang; Quan Jiang; Ruilan Zhang; Kenneth Davies; Cecylia Powers; Nicholas van Bruggen; Michael Chopp
• Keywords: Penumbra; Brain ischemia; Vascular permeability

VEGF is a secreted mitogen associated with angiogenesis and also potent vascular permeability factor. The biological role of in the ischemic brain remains unknown. This study was undertaken to investigate whether enhances cerebral microvascular perfusion increases blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage brain. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), three-dimensional laser-scanning confocal microscope, functional neurological tests, we measured effects administrating recombinant human VEGF165 (rhVEGF165) on angiogenesis, outcome, BBB rat model focal embolic ischemia. Late (48 hours) administration rhVEGF165 rats enhanced penumbra significantly improved recovery. However, early postischemic (1 hour) increased leakage, hemorrhagic transformation, lesions. Administration did not change plasma contralateral hemisphere. Our results indicate that can markedly enhance reduce deficits during stroke recovery inhibition at acute stage may risk transformation after