Recent evidence suggests that the angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has a role in determining the survival of motor neurones. VEGF has a pivotal function in the growth of coordinated vascular and neuronal networks in the developing embryo, and promotes the survival of neurones in vitro. Transgenic (VEGFδ/δ) mice which lack a hypoxia-responsive regulatory element in the VEGF gene express low levels of this neurotrophic factor in neural tissue, and develop adult-onset degeneration of motor neurones, which resembles amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:505480 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Brockington, Alice R. |
| Publisher | University of Sheffield |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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