Immunocytochemical localization of vascular endothelial growth factor in neurons and glial cells of human retina.

In order to establish the cellular and subcellular localization of the chemokine protein, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or vascular permeability factor, in adult human retina, we employed immunocytochemistry with double immunolabeling, using a primary antibody to amino acids 1-10 of VEGF, together with antibodies to vimentin (intermediate filaments, labeling Müller cells) or to neuron-specific enolase (labeling retinal neurons). In adult human retina, VEGF-like immunoreactivity (VEGF-IR) is found in Müller cell processes, where typically it is found in the cytoplasm in close association with Vimentin-labeled (VM-IR) intermediate filaments. VEGF-IR is sometimes found diffusely in Müller cell bodies and nuclei.