| Abstract: | Objective To study the effect of glutamate on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and protein in cultured rat astrocytes. Methods Cultured rat astrocytes were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group (C), glutamate group (G), QA group (Q), DCG-IV group (D), L-AP4 group (L) and glutanmte-FMCPG gronp (G+M). Cells were cultured under nomoxic condition (95% air, 5% CO2). RT-PCR and ELISA methods were used to detect the expression of VEGF mRNA and protein in cultured astrocytes, respectively. G+ M group was preincubated with lmM MCPG for 30 min prior to the stimulation with glutamate. There were 7 time points at 0,4,8,12,16,24 and 48 h in each group except G+M group. Results The expression of VEGF mRNA and protein did not differ significantly among D group, L group and C group. Different from that in C group, the expression of VEGF mRNA and protein could be enhanced both in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner in G group and Q group. Meanwhile, the enhanced expression of VEGF mRNA and protein in G group was completely suppressed by MCPG after 24 h. Conclusion Glutamate can increase the expression of VEGF mRNA and protein in cultured astrocytes, which may be due to the activation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors in astrocytes. |
