KDR and ischemia: Our studies suggest that VEGF release by NSPCs underlies in vitro neuroprotection against ischemia, via direct activation of neuronal VEGFR2 receptors, since neuroprotection was abrogated by the presence of the VEGFR2 kinase inhibitor, SU1498, and by the presence of the VEGFR decoy receptor, Flt-1-Fc.