Changes in growth factor expression in normal aging of the rat retina

Although much is known about the growth factor changes in ocular tissues during various diseases, little is known about normal aging of the retina. In order to further understand normal aging in the retina, we characterized age-related changes of growth factor expression in three different ages of rat retina. Real time PCR and protein analysis was conducted to investigate steady state mRNA expression and protein levels of VEGF, VEGFR2, PEDF, Ang-1, Tie-2, EphB4 and ephrinB2 in the retina of 8-, 22-, and 32-month-old Brown Norway X Fischer 344 F1 hybrid rats. An increase of VEGF protein levels was found at 32 months compared to 8 and 22 months of age. VEGFR2 protein was found to be increased at 22 and 32 months compared to 8 months. PEDF protein levels were reduced at 22 and 32 months. Tie-2 levels were found to be significantly decreased by 32 months compared to 8 months of age, while ephrinB2 was found to be significantly lower at both 22 and 32 months compared to 8 months of age. The increases found in VEGF and its receptor VEGFR2, with the simultaneous decrease of PEDF protein levels, may stimulate an environment that is well suited for neovascularization in the normal aging retina. Overall, these results suggest that normal aging produces substantial changes in gene expression and protein levels.