{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T17:38:16Z","timestamp":1790703496335,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,17]],"date-time":"2022-06-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1655424000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Although the enteric nervous system (ENS) functions largely autonomously as part of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), it is connected to the central nervous system (CNS) via the gut\u2013brain axis. In many neurodegenerative diseases, pathological changes occur in addition to gastrointestinal symptoms, such as alpha-synuclein aggregates in Parkinson\u2019s disease, which are found early in the ENS. In both the CNS and PNS, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mediates neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects. Since the ENS with its close connection to the microbiome and the immune system is discussed as the origin of neurodegenerative diseases, it is necessary to investigate the possibly positive effects of VEGF on enteric neurons. Using laser microdissection and subsequent quantitative RT-PCR as well as immunohistochemistry, for the first time we were able to detect and localize VEGF receptor expression in rat myenteric neurons of different ages. Furthermore, we demonstrate direct neuroprotective effects of VEGF in the ENS in cell cultures. Thus, our results suggest a promising approach regarding neuroprotection, as the use of VEGF (may) prevent neuronal damage in the ENS.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms23126756","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,17]],"date-time":"2022-06-17T11:45:44Z","timestamp":1655466344000},"page":"6756","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":16,"title":["Neuroprotective Effects of VEGF in the Enteric Nervous System"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"23","author":[{"given":"Ines","family":"Hecking","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitaetsstr. 150, Building MA, Level 5, 44780 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lennart Norman","family":"Stegemann","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitaetsstr. 150, Building MA, Level 5, 44780 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Verena","family":"Theis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitaetsstr. 150, Building MA, Level 5, 44780 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Matthias","family":"Vorgerd","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Neuromuscular Center Ruhrgebiet, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Buerkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9717-4485","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Veronika","family":"Matschke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitaetsstr. 150, Building MA, Level 5, 44780 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sarah","family":"Stahlke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitaetsstr. 150, Building MA, Level 5, 44780 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7983-0143","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carsten","family":"Theiss","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitaetsstr. 150, Building MA, Level 5, 44780 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Gershon, M.D. (1998). 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