EXPRESSION OF VEGFR-3 IN LYMPHATIC ENDOTHELIUM OF THE SKIN IN RAT EMBRYOS / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyse the expression patterns of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3(VEGFR-3) at the protein and mRNA level,and to detect the biological function of VEGFR-3 in the lymphangiogenesis of the embryos. Methods A total of 61 specimens of skin were investigated by immunohistochemical staining with a polyclonal antibody against VEGFR-3 in embryo 15-day-old(E15) and in embryo 21-day-old(E21).The expression of VEGFR-3 mRNA was studied in situ hybridization. Results The positive expression of VEGFR-3 can be seen in lymphatic vessels of the embryonic skin.The occurrences of VEGFR-3 protein in lymphatic vessels in E15 and in E21 were 38.71%(12/31) and 73.33%(22/30) respectively,the expression level of VEGFR-3 protein in E21 was significantly higher than that in E15(?~2=7.408,P