EphrinB2 regulates VEGFR2 during dendritogenesis and hippocampal circuitry development.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic factor that play important roles in the nervous system, although it is still unclear which receptors transduce those signals in neurons. Here, we show that in the developing hippocampus VEGFR2 (also known as KDR or FLK1) is expressed specifically in the CA3 region and it is required for dendritic arborization and spine morphogenesis in hippocampal neurons. Mice lacking VEGFR2 in neurons () show decreased dendritic arbors and spines as well as a reduction in long-term potentiation (LTP) at the associational-commissural - CA3 synapses.