Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A Is a Survival Factor for Retinal Neurons and a Critical Neuroprotectant during the Adaptive Response to Ischemic Injury

Kazuaki Nishijima, Yin-Shan Ng, Lichun Zhong, John Bradley, William Schubert et al.

American Journal Of Pathology • 2007

DOI PMC

Ischemic Preconditioning

behavioralNot explicitly stated in provided textNot explicitly stated in provided text

Objective: Assessment of VEGF-A level changes and retinal cell apoptosis reduction following 24-hour ischemic preconditioning before ischemia-reperfusion injury

Protocol Steps

Ischemic Preconditioning

Perform ischemic preconditioning 24 hours before ischemia-reperfusion injury

24 hours before main injuryNot specified

Note: This preconditioning step precedes the ischemia-reperfusion injury protocol

View evidence from paper

“Ischemic preconditioning 24 hours before ischemia-reperfusion injury increased VEGF-A levels”

Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Induce ischemia-reperfusion injury following the 24-hour preconditioning period

Not specifiedNot specified

Note: Performed after ischemic preconditioning

View evidence from paper

“ischemia-reperfusion injury increased VEGF-A levels and substantially decreased the number of apoptotic retinal cells”

Measure VEGF-A Levels

Assess VEGF-A levels in retinal tissue following ischemic preconditioning and ischemia-reperfusion injury

Not specifiedNot specified

Note: VEGF-A levels increased as part of adaptive response to ischemia

View evidence from paper

“Ischemic preconditioning 24 hours before ischemia-reperfusion injury increased VEGF-A levels”

Assess Retinal Cell Apoptosis

Quantify apoptotic retinal cells following ischemic preconditioning and ischemia-reperfusion injury

Not specifiedNot specified

Note: Apoptotic cell count substantially decreased with ischemic preconditioning

View evidence from paper

“substantially decreased the number of apoptotic retinal cells”

VEGF-A Inhibition Study

Inhibit VEGF-A function and assess reversal of ischemic preconditioning protective effects

Not specifiedNot specified

Note: Protective effect of ischemic preconditioning was reversed after VEGF-A inhibition

View evidence from paper

“The protective effect of ischemic preconditioning was reversed after VEGF-A inhibition”

Chronic VEGF-A Inhibition in Normal Animals

Chronically inhibit VEGF-A function in normal adult animals and assess retinal ganglion cell loss

Chronic treatment period not specifiedNot specified

Note: Chronic VEGF-A inhibition led to significant loss of retinal ganglion cells with no observable effect on vascular parameters

View evidence from paper

“chronic inhibition of VEGF-A function in normal adult animals led to a significant loss of retinal ganglion cells”