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Basic fibroblast growth factor in the hypoglossal system: Specific retrograde transport, trophic, and lesion‐related responses
Author(s) -
Grothe Claudia,
Unsicker K.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.490320304
Subject(s) - trophic level , lesion , neuroscience , fibroblast , fibroblast growth factor , basic fibroblast growth factor , biology , anatomy , growth factor , medicine , pathology , biochemistry , ecology , in vitro , receptor
To further clarify the function of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the nervous system, we have examined its distribution, lesion‐dependent regulation, retrograde transport, and trophic roles on rat hypoglossal neurons. In adult rats, bFGF‐like immunoreactivity is localized in hypoglossal motoneurons, drastically reduced 2 days after axotomy, and re‐expressed by 11 days. Neuron numbers and morphology assessed by Nissl staining are not affected by the lesion. 125 J bFGF is specifically retrogradely transported by hypoglossal motoneurons from their peripheral nerve terminals. Moreover, bFGF stimulates the in vitro survival of hypoglossal neurons (ED 50 2 ng/ml). In vivo administration of bFGF prevents lesion‐induced motoneuron death to 14% in 7 day old rats and to 60% in 18 day old rats, but not the axotomy‐induced decrease of choline acetyltransferase activity in the hypoglossal nucleus of adult rats. These results are consistent with a neurotrophic role of bFGF in the hypoglossal system. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.