Neuroprotective effect of lentivirus mediated VEGF on rat model with cerebral ischemic injury

This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect and its mechanism of lentivirus mediated VEGF on rat model with cerebral ischemic injury. 45 rats with cerebral ischemic injury constructed by the suture method were randomly divided into sham group, model group, vector group and VEGF group. The packaged vector lentivirus and lentivirus carrying VEGF gene were injected into the lateral ventricular of rats in vector group and VEGF group respectively. The equal volume of PBS buffer was injected in sham group and model group respectively. The expression of VEGF and protein in brain tissue were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot. The change of brain tissue vascular density was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The brain infarction area and the degree of nervous functional defect of the rats were analyzed. VEGF mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher in brain tissue of rats in VEGF group than those in model group and vector group (P < 0.05). The brain tissue vascular density increased significantly in VEGF group (P < 0.05). Compared with sham group, the infarction area of brain tissue and the degree of nervous functional defect increased significantly in model group, vector group and VEGF group, but the VEGF group was significantly lower than those in model group and vector group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the overexpression of VEGF in cerebral ischemia injury contributed to the angiogenesis in brain tissues, reduced the brain injury caused by cerebral ischemia and protected brain neuronal function.