Decoction of Liangxue Huayu on expression of VEGF and PEDF in experimental choroidal neovascularization

Objective To investigate the effects of decoction of Liangxue Huayu on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and pigment epithelium derived factor(PEDF)in krypton laser induced experimental choroidal neovascularization(CNV).Methods A total of 32 Brown Norway rats were randomly divided into control group and decoction of Liangxue Huayu group(traditional Chinese medicine group),16 rats in each group.Experimental CNV Brown Norway rats were induced by krypton laser to break Bruch membrane of rats.The formation of CNV at fundus were observed and the expression of VEGF and PEDF were measured with immunohistochemistry at 1 week,2 weeks,3 weeks and 4 weeks after laser photocoagulation in both two groups.Results The formation of CNV was found in both two groups after laser photocoagulation.Fluorescein leakage area of CNV was fewer in traditional Chinese medicine group than that in control group at 2 weeks to 4 weeks after laser photocoagulation(all P0.05).Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of VEGF came to the peak at 4 weeks and the average integral optical density(IOD)value was 1 552.66±753.50 in control group;The expression of VEGF came to the peak at 2 weeks,the average IOD value was 212.83±160.20 and began to decrease at 3 weeks in traditional Chinese medicine group.At 2 weeks to 4 weeks after photocoagulation,the average IOD value of VEGF had statistical difference between the two groups(all P0.05).The expression of PEDF reached to the most at 1 week in both groups,were 162.42±45.58 in control group and 493.85±127.35 in traditional Chinese medicine group;There was a downtrend of PEDF expression in both two groups in the following time.At 1 week to 4 weeks after photocoagulation,there was statistical difference in average IOD value of PEDF between the two groups(all P0.05).Conclusion Decoction of Liangxue Huayu can inhibit the growth of experimental CNV through the way of down-regulating the level of VEGF and up-regulating the level of PEDF.