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Vascular‐derived VEGF: A determinant of vascular sympathetic innervation?
Author(s) -
Marko Stephen B.,
Damon Deborah H.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a487-c
Subject(s) - neurovascular bundle , semaphorin , sema3a , vascular endothelial growth factor , medicine , growth cone , sympathetic innervation , biology , endocrinology , neuropilin 1 , anatomy , vascular endothelial growth factor a , microbiology and biotechnology , vegf receptors , axon , receptor
Vascular sympathetic innervation is a determinant of blood pressure and flow. Its development and maintenance are not well understood. This study tests the hypothesis that semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) interact to modulate axon growth at sympathetic neurovascular junctions. Sema3A induced growth cone collapse (%; mean±se) that was blocked by VEGF. Sema‐induced collapse in the absence of VEGF (66±3) was greater than in the presence of VEGF (45±2). VEGF also inhibited Sema3A in neurons grown in the presence of vascular smooth muscle (VSM). VSM inhibited Sema3A; collapse in the presence of VSM (29±2) was less than that in the absence of VSM (44±7). In the absence of vascular‐derived VEGF (+ VEGF antibody), VSM no longer inhibited sema3A; collapse in the presence of VSM (37±7) was not different from that in the absence of VSM (39±5). VEGF in neurovascular cultures also increased growth cone area (μm 2 ) and this increase was mediated by VEGFR1. Growth cones in neurovascular cultures grown in the presence of VEGFR1 antibody (57±5) were smaller than in neurovascular cultures grown in the presence of a control antibody (116±11). These data suggest novel interactions between VEGF and sympathetic neurons that may modulate the actions of Sema3A at sympathetic neurovascular junctions and contribute to the development and/or maintenance of vascular sympathetic innervation. HL076774.