Expression of the VEGF-related factor gene in pre- and postnatal mouse

We have previously identified a novel gene closely related to the vasoactive endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene. The human VEGF related factor (VRF) gene was initially isolated using an 11q13 specific cosmid probe (D11S750). Subsequently human VRF was used to isolate the corresponding mouse gene (vrf). Here, we report the spatiotemporal expression pattern of vrf during pre- and postnatal development. Mouse vrf gene expression starts early in fetal development. At day 14 post coitum it is expressed in most cells of the embryo although the heart, spinal cord and the cerebral cortex show significantly higher levels of expression than other tissues. At 17 days post coitum expression is almost exclusively seen in heart, brown fat and spinal cord. This pattern of expression could be consistent with a role of vrf as a growth factor in these tissues.