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Superior Cervical Ganglionectomy Induces Changes in Growth Factor Expression in the Rat Retina

¹From the Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, Illinois; and the ²Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology and ³Ophthalmology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.

PURPOSE. To determine whether sympathetic nerves regulate expression of known angiogenic growth factors.

METHODS. Surgical sympathectomy (SNX) was used to remove sympathetic innervation to the eye. Real-time PCR was used to measure steady state mRNA expression of VEGF, VEGFR-2, angiopoietin-1, and Tie2. Western blot analysis was performed to assess protein expression. Blood–retinal barrier (BRB) permeability surface area product (PS) was measured using enhanced MRI on a separate group of control and SNX rats.

RESULTS. mRNA of both VEGF and VEGFR-2 decreased significantly at 6 weeks after SNX. VEGF protein expression also decreased significantly. VEGFR-2 protein was unchanged. Both angiopoietin-1 and Tie2 mRNA expression increased significantly after SNX. Immunoblot analysis showed that angiopoietin-1 protein expression coincided with its mRNA expression. Tie2 protein expression was unaffected. Sympathetic denervation did not significantly increase BRB PS.

CONCLUSIONS. Surgical SNX results in a reduction in VEGF gene and protein expression, while increasing protein expression of Ang-1. These findings suggest that sympathetic nerves regulate the expression of angiogenic growth factors in rat retina.

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