Ontogeny of VEGF, IGF-I, and GH in neonatal rat serum, vitreous fluid, and retina from birth to weaning

Houchang D. Modanlou, Zahra Gharraee, Jamal Hasan, Joshua Waltzman, Stephen Nageotte, Kay D.A. Beharry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulinlike growth factor (IGF)-I, and growth hormone (GH) are major regulators of physical growth, as well as normal and pathologic retinal development. Ocular tissues are protected by the blood-ocular barrier. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the ontogenic profiles of VEGF, IGF-I, and GH in the rat serum, vitreous fluid, and retina are compartment specific, and that the vitreous is a reservoir for retinal growth factors. METHODS. Sprague-Dawley rat pups were killed at birth (postnatal day [P]0) and at P7, P14, and P21. At death, serum, vitreous fluid, and retinal homogenates were analyzed for ontogeny of VEGF, IGF-I, and GH. RESULTS. VEGF levels were 10 times higher in the vitreous than in serum at all stages of development. Vitreous and serum VEGF levels progressively declined, with lowest concentrations at P21. Retinal VEGF levels increased with the highest concentration at P21. IGF-I levels in the vitreous decreased from P7 through P21. IGF-I levels in serum and retinal homogenates increased with advancing postnatal age. Although IGF-I levels were four times higher in the vitreous than in the retina at P0, equilibration was achieved at P21. GH levels in the vitreous were 10 times lower than serum levels, were decreased at P14 and P21, and remained unchanged from P0 through P21 in the retina. CONCLUSIONS. VEGF and IGF-I act in concert to promote retinal development with the vitreous fluid as a reservoir. The ontogenic profiles of VEGF, IGF-I and GH in the serum and ocular compartments are specific. These differences should be considered when therapies for ROP are proposed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)738-744
Number of pages7
JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Volume47
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2006

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