VEGF-induced angiogenesis ameliorates the memory impairment in APP transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was investigated in the present study to see whether it could provide a therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). PDGF-hAPPV717I transgenic mice were treated with VEGF or PBS by intraperitoneal injection for three consecutive days. The results showed that VEGF ameliorated the memory impairment of mice, accompanied by CD34+ cells increasing in peripheral blood, vWF+ vessels increasing in hippocampus, and CD34+/VEGFR2+, vWF+/VEGFR2+ and BrdU+/vWF+ cells expressing in hippocampus. Furthermore, the level of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) was considerably enhanced and Aβ deposition was decreased in the brains of mice upon VEGF treatment. These observations suggest that VEGF should be pursued as a novel therapeutic agent for treatment of AD.

► Morris water maze testing result shows that VEGF can improve the cognitive function of PDGF-hAPPV717I transgenic mice.
► VEGF stimulated angiogenesis in the brains of PDGF-hAPPV717I transgenic mice.
► VEGF can mobilize endothelial progenitor cells into the peripheral blood.
► VEGF enhanced the level of ChAT in the brains of PDGF-hAPPV717I transgenic mice.
► VEGF decreased the deposition of Aβ1–42 in the brains of PDGF-hAPPV717I transgenic mice.