Collectins and the host defense molecules SAA and SMAP29 are induced by VEGF. SP-A (A), SP-D (B), SAA (C) and SMAP29 (D) mRNA levels in homogenized lungs of full-term lambs were determined by real-time qPCR. The mRNA expression levels were expressed as fold induction relative to saline-treated lambs. The data represent the mean ± SEM (n = 3 for saline; for low dose VEGF n = 1 at all time points; for medium dose VEGF n = 2 for 16 h, n = 3 for 24 h, n = 2 for 32 h; for high dose VEGF, n = 1 for all time points; for BSA, n = 2). *p ≤ 0.05; **p ≤ 0.01; ***p ≤ 0.001 by ANOVA when compared to saline-treated animals.