ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects and the possible mechanisms of nerve growth factor (NGF) on serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) protein expression in rats with focal cerebral ischemia.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighting 200 ～ 250 g were subjected to middle cerebral occlusion (MCAO).MCAO rats were randomly divided into NGF group,saline control group and NGF+PI3K antagonist group (n =12).The neurological function was evaluated on the 4th,7th day after MCAO,and the serum levels of VEGF and SDF-1 protein were measured by ELISA.Results The neurological function was better in rats of the NGF group than those of the saline control group and NGF+PI3K antagonist on the 4th,7th day after MCAO (P ＜ 0.05).The serum levels of VEGF and SDF-1 protein of the NGF group was significantly higher than that of the saline control group and NGF+PI3K antagonist group on the 4th day after MCAO (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Treatment with NGF may improve neurological function of rats with focal cerebral ischemia,and upregulate serum levels of VEGF and SDF-1 protein expression.PI3K/AKT signal pathway may have attended the above regulation.