Experimental Research On The Effect Of Estradiol On Expression Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor In The Cerebral Ischemic/reperfused Rat Hippocampus

Objective To investigate effects of estradiol on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in the cerebral ischemic/reperfused rat hippocampus. Methods Female SD rats were ovariectomized(OVX), then randomly divided into E2 group, experimental control group, and sham group. E2 group were treated with 2mg/kg.d estradiol benzoate(EB) for 7 days, experimental and sham group were treated with placebo, and subjected to 2-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and 48 hours of reperfusion. Brain microvessel density were counted by CD34 positive vessels. Bcl-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) levels were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The quantitative reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique were used to examine the gene expression of VEGF. Results The result of immunohistry revealed that brain microvessel density and expression of Bcl-2 and VEGF were increased in E2 group and experimental control group. And these increasing expression were more significant in E2 group than group experimental control group. Conclusion Estradiol can enhance the expression of VEGF after cerebral ischemic/reperfused injury in rat hippocampus.