Objective: To study morphologically the formation, growth and rupture of cerebral arterivenous malformation (CAVM).
Method: By means of immunostaining we studied vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Tie-1, Tie-2, Ang-1, Ang-2 in endothelial cells (EC) of CAVM (30 specimens) and control cortical vessel (7 specimens) in the temporal lobe.
Results: The expression of VEGF in EC of CAVM was -884, +1,819, + +424 and in controls -445, +29, + +10. The expression of Tie-1 in EC of CAVM was -2,252, +626, + +12 and in controls -421, +88, + +6. The expression of Tie-2 in EC of CAVM was -683, +1,908, + 8 and in controls -444, +64, + +7. The expression of Ang-1 in EC of CAVM was -2,215, +209, + +41 and in controls -487, +41, + +9. The expression of Ang-2 in EC of CAVM was -956, +2,099, + +135 and in controls -475, , + +9.
Conclusion: Up-regulated VEGF in part of brain and Tie-2, Ang-2 high expression in EC of some vessels may be one of major factors for CAVM formation growth, and rupture in the embryonic period.