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VEGF in Development pp 91–103Cite as

VEGF in the Nervous System

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Part of the book series: Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit ((MBIU))

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, VEGFA) is critical for blood vessel growth in the developing and adult nervous system of vertebrates. Several recent studies demonstrate that VEGF also promotes neurogenesis, neuronal patterning, neuroprotection and glial growth. For example, VEGF treatment of cultured neurons enhances survival and neurite growth independently of blood vessels. Moreover, evidence is emerging that VEGF guides neuronal migration in the embryonic brain and supports axonal and arterial copatterning in the developing skin. Even though further work is needed to understand the various roles of VEGF in the nervous system and to distinguish direct neuronal effects from indirect, vessel-mediated effects, VEGF can be considered a promising tool to promote neuronal health and nerve repair.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Jeffrey M. Rosenstein & Janette M. Krum

  2. Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK

    Christiana Ruhrberg

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  1. Jeffrey M. Rosenstein
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  2. Janette M. Krum
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  3. Christiana Ruhrberg
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Correspondence to Christiana Ruhrberg .

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Rosenstein, J.M., Krum, J.M., Ruhrberg, C. (2008). VEGF in the Nervous System. In: VEGF in Development. Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-78632-2_8

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