Fig. 3. Hyperglycemia down-regulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). (  A ) Quantitative messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of VEGF as assessed by TaqMan quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in renal tissue 24 h after reperfusion. Values were normalized to β-actin and are expressed as a ratio of sham ± SD, with n = 4 in each group. VEGF mRNA levels did not change in the saline group after ischemia-reperfusion compared with sham but were significantly decreased in the PI dextrose group. (  B ) Representative immunoblot for VEGF in kidneys after ischemia-reperfusion along with densitometric analysis. VEGF protein was measured by Western blot in 50 μg of kidney homogenates. Densitometric values were normalized to actin and are expressed as a ratio of sham ± SD, with n = 4 each in the sham and saline control groups and n = 6 each in the PI dextrose and PR dextrose groups. VEGF protein levels did not change in the saline group after ischemia-reperfusion compared with sham but were significantly decreased in the PI dextrose group. *  P < 0.05  versus sham. $  P < 0.05  versus PR dextrose group. #  P < 0.05  versus saline. VEGF expression in the PR dextrose group was similar to that in the saline group. PI dextrose = hyperglycemia lasts through the duration of ischemia; PR dextrose = hyperglycemia begins 2 h after initiation of reperfusion.