Furthermore, while VEGF increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in the hippocampus of control offspring, this effect was blunted in the MIA offspring, further extending insights into the impairment of VEGF signaling in the MIA progeny and inviting future studies for the exploration of the therapeutic potential of VEGF in the MIA model of depression. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is major depressive disorder.