Figure 1.

VEGF-B is expressed in the sensory nervous system. A, B) Real-time PCR measurements for Vegfb and Flt1 on cDNA preparations from whole L4–L5 DRGs and primary cultures of L4–L5 DRG neurons show that Vegfb and Flt1 are expressed in whole DRGs (A) and DRG neurons (B). No differences between normal and paclitaxel-challenged paws were noticed in whole DRGs (n=4–5/group; P=NS), whereas total Vegfb and Vegfb167 levels were slightly increased in primary DRG neurons treated with paclitaxel (n=4/group; P<0.05). Expression levels are represented relative to those of β-actin. C–F) VEGF-B expression is detected on DRG neurons, as revealed by double immunostaining (F) on cryounfixed sections for endogenous VEGF-B (C), the neuronal marker NEUN (D), and the nuclear dye DAPI (E). Scale bars = 20 μm.