Expression and significance of VEGF and p53 in rat degenerated intervertebral disc tissues

Objective:To discuss the expression and significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and p53 expression in rat degenerated intervertebral disc(IVD) tissues.Methods:A total of 78 even-aged Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats(observation group) were chosen to establish a rat IVD degeneration model with anterior limbs and tail-removing method.Three months after modeling, rats were executed and degenerated IVD tissues were obtained for pathological biopsy so as to observe VEGF and p53 expression thereof.Meanwhile,IVD tissues from 8 healthy rats were gained for comparison.Results:Capillary infiltration was found in 62.8%of cases in observation group. Positive expression of VEGF and p53 was seen in 74.4%and 59.0%of cases respectively with a co-expression rate of 53.8%.VECF and p53 expression in degenerated IVD tissues with capillary infiltration was higher than that in non-infiltration group(P【0.05).Conclasion:A coordinate expression of VEGF and p53 in rat degenerated IVD tissues is demonstrated,indicating that they are both involved in neovascularization and infiltration,which accelerates IVD degeneration.