Neovascularization following traumatic brain injury: possible evidence for both angiogenesis and vasculogenesis

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to characterize the angiogenic response following traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: Western analysis for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, double immunofluorescence labeling of endothelium and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), bromodioxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and measurement of capillary density, were all used to determine the temporal angiogenic response following TBI. RESULTS: The angiogenic factors, VEGF and VEGFR2, increase following trauma. Capillary density increases and BrdU incorporation confirm the presence of newly formed vessels up to 48 hours post-injury. DISCUSSION: Our results indicated that following TBI, there is a substantial increase in angiogenesis and based on morphologic characterization of BrdU-positive nuclei within the endothelium, we provide evidence for vasculogenesis following injury.