Keywords: 
• hypoxia /
• vascular endothelial /
• growth substances /
• permeability

Abstract: Objective In order to understand the regulation of hypoxia on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) permeability action, particularly in relation to the risk of development of atherosclerosis, the effect of recombinant human VEGF on the oxidation low density lipoprotein (OxLDL) permeability of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) was observed under the hypoxia condition in vitro.Methods Under normal or hypoxia condition, the confluence BAEC monolayers were cultured with normal medium and with medium containing VEGF at various concentrations and for various time periods. The Iodine labeled low density lipoprotein flux across the monolayers was then performed, and the radioactivity was measured by SN 695 automatic liquid scintillation counter. Results Addition of VEGF to the BAEC monolayers significantly increased the permeability of the monolayer to [¹²⁵I]OxLDL (P<0.01). The permeability increasing activity of VEGF on the BAEC monolayers was concentration dependent. Hypoxia injury on endothelial cells increased VEGF induced hyperpermeability. Conclusion VEGF plays a role in the formation and development of atherosclerosis.