Influence of lactic acid on differential expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and pigment epithelium-derived factor in explants of rat retina

Curr Eye Res. 2012 Nov;37(11):1025-9. doi: 10.3109/02713683.2012.695853. Epub 2012 Aug 20.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the influence of lactate on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in rat retina.

Methods: Retinal explants from neonatal Sprague Dawley rats were incubated with media containing 10, 20, or 30 mM of lactic acid. The 10 mM group was used as a control. At 24 h after incubation, retinas were sectioned for light microscopy, and expressions of VEGF and PEDF measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis.

Results: The architecture of cultured retinas appeared to be intact. Compared with control, both RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that 30 mM of lactic acid significantly increased the levels of VEGF, but not PEDF.

Conclusions: Stimulation of production of retinal VEGF by lactate is dependent on the concentration of lactate. Lactate has no effect on the expression of PEDF in rat retinal explants.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Blotting, Western
  • DNA / genetics*
  • Eye Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Eye Proteins / drug effects
  • Eye Proteins / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects*
  • Lactic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Nerve Growth Factors / biosynthesis
  • Nerve Growth Factors / drug effects
  • Nerve Growth Factors / genetics*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Retina / drug effects
  • Retina / growth & development
  • Retina / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Serpins / biosynthesis
  • Serpins / drug effects
  • Serpins / genetics*
  • Tissue Culture Techniques
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / biosynthesis
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / drug effects
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics*

Substances

  • Eye Proteins
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Serpins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • pigment epithelium-derived factor
  • Lactic Acid
  • DNA