RESUMO
VEGF and its receptors, flk-1 and flt-1 have been characterized as critical factors in angiogenesis and neurogenesis during development. Here we investigated the expression of VEGF and its receptors in postnatal murine cerebellum in terms of time-dependency and regional distribution. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression of VEGF was restricted only to Purkinje cells and was increased in their processes on the postnatal development. Flk-1 was expressed in Purkinje cellular bodies on postnatal day (P) 8, 11, 18. Flt-1 was expressed in Purkinje cells on P8 but gradually disappeared in all of cerebellar layers on the postnatal development. These results suggest that VEGF may contribute to postnatal development of cerebellum via its receptors. And they suggest that changes in the expression of VEGF and its receptors related to the difference in maturation and proliferation of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum.