Tikhonovich M.V., Iojleva E.Je.
THE ROLE OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR IN RETINAL PHYSIOLOGY ^{[№ 12 ' 2015]}
In this review paper we discuss the role of endothelial vessels growth in normal retina physiology and in pathologies for different organism development stages. We consider various isoforms of the growth factores and the importance of these factors for correct development of the retinal vascular bed. We discuss the existence of VEGF and its receptors in different retinal cells under normal conditions. Much attention has been given to the role of VEGF in angiogenesis: its action on endothelial cells, vascular development in normal eyes and the formation of retinal and subretinal new vessels in ischemic conditions. The factors, that trigger the process of neoangiogenesis are considered in detail. There are interactions between the nervous and cardiovascular systems, that are carried out with the help of the vascular endothelial growth factor. These interactions are considered here. The neuroprotective properties of VEGF in the central nervous system in general and in the eye in particular, which are attracting much interest among the researchers in the last few years, as well as its action on ganglial cells, glial cells of the retina and photoreceptors are also mentioned in the review.