VEGF receptor expression decreases during lung development in congenital diaphragmatic hernia induced by nitrofen.
Braz J Med Biol Res 2014;
47:171-8. [PMID:
24519134 PMCID:
PMC4051183 DOI:
10.1590/1414-431x20133221]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in pulmonary vessels have
been described in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and may contribute to
the development of pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension; however, how the
expression of VEGF receptors changes during fetal lung development in CDH is not
understood. The aim of this study was to compare morphological evolution with
expression of VEGF receptors, VEGFR1 (Flt-1) and VEGFR2 (Flk-1), in
pseudoglandular, canalicular, and saccular stages of lung development in normal
rat fetuses and in fetuses with CDH. Pregnant rats were divided into four groups
(n=20 fetuses each) of four different gestational days (GD) 18.5, 19.5, 20.5,
21.5: external control (EC), exposed to olive oil (OO), exposed to 100 mg
nitrofen, by gavage, without CDH (N-), and exposed to nitrofen with CDH (CDH) on
GD 9.5 (term=22 days). The morphological variables studied were: body weight
(BW), total lung weight (TLW), left lung weight, TLW/BW ratio, total lung
volume, and left lung volume. The histometric variables studied were: left lung
parenchymal area density and left lung parenchymal volume. VEGFR1 and VEGFR2
expression were determined by Western blotting. The data were analyzed using
analysis of variance with the Tukey-Kramer post hoc test. CDH
frequency was 37% (80/216). All the morphological and histometric variables were
reduced in the N- and CDH groups compared with the controls, and reductions were
more pronounced in the CDH group (P<0.05) and more evident on GD 20.5 and GD
21.5. Similar results were observed for VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 expression. We
conclude that N- and CDH fetuses showed primary pulmonary hypoplasia, with a
decrease in VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 expression.
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