Fig. 3.
Spinal blockade of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A)/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) attenuates abnormal gait in tumor-bearing rats. (A to D) Representative CatWalk gait, including print view, timing view, and print intensity, in sham (A), tumor (B), tumor + anti-VEGF-A (C), and tumor + ZM 323881 (D) group. (E to H) Spinal administration of VEGF-A neutralizing antibody or VEGFR2 inhibitor ZM 323881 significantly attenuated tumor-induced decrease in max contact area (E), max contact max intensity (F) and single stance (G), as well as increase in swing (H) in tumor-bearing rats. VEGF-A neutralizing antibody (anti-VEGF-A, 2 μg, intrathecal [i.t.]) or ZM 323881 (100 nM, i.t.) was injected once daily on days 12, 13, and 14 post–tumor inoculation. Behavioral tests were performed 4 h after the last injection. Data were calculated as percentage of ipsilateral (right)/contralateral (left) hind paw. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, one-way ANOVA with post hoc Dunnett test. The number of detected animals is indicated inside of each column. LH, left hind; n.s., no statistical significance; RH, right hind.