Microarray analysis of Vegf-b knockout mice.

血管内皮生长因子-B的特性表明，它可能在新血管形成(血管生成)中发挥作用，特别是在心脏发育过程中。缺失血管内皮生长因子-b基因的小鼠可以存活和生育，但随着动物年龄的增长和实验性的缺血条件，小鼠会表现出心脏功能障碍。比较缺乏血管内皮生长因子-B的小鼠和正常小鼠心脏中的总基因表达，将发现参与心脏发育和维持过程中血管形成的基因。已确定的基因将成为设计潜在的心血管疾病新药和疗法的目标。

The properties of Vegf-B suggest that it may play a role in new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) especially during the development of the heart. Mice with the Vegf-b gene deleted are viable and fertile but display cardiac dysfunction as the animals age and in experimental conditions of ischemia. Comparison of total gene expression in the hearts of mice lacking Vegf-B with those of normal mice will identify genes involved in blood vessel formation during cardiac development and maintenance. The genes identified will be targets for designing potential new drugs and therapies for cardiovascular disease.