VEGFA and otitis media with effusion: Vegf, Vegfr1 (also known as Flt1) and Vegfr2 (also known as Kdr) gene and protein expression are upregulated in the endotoxin-induced rat model of OME [18], [19] and Vegf protein is elevated in mouse middle and inner ear tissue after challenge with Haemophilus influenzae[20].