Premium
FGF‐2 Induces Nerve Growth Factor Expression in Cultured Rat Hippocampal Neurons
Author(s) -
Ferhat Lotfi,
Represa Alfonso,
ZouaouiAggoun Djamila,
Ferhat Walid,
BenAri Yezekiel,
Khrestchatisky Michel
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.1997.tb01483.x
Subject(s) - hippocampal formation , nerve growth factor , neuroscience , microbiology and biotechnology , fibroblast growth factor , biology , medicine , endocrinology , receptor
Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF‐2) is expressed in the hippocampus and has been demonstrated to promote neurotrophic effects on hippocampal neurons in vifro. We show that these neurons, even at the embryonic stage, express the mRNAs encoding the FGF receptors, bek and flg. We have characterized the effects of FGF‐2 on the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) using the reverse transcription‐coupled polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. In hippocampal neurons grown in the absence of serum, FGFB exposure induces an important elevation of NGF mRNA expression followed by a marked increase in NGF immunoreactivity. Combining in situ hybridization with an NGF probe and microtubule‐associated protein‐2 (MAP2) immunocytochemistry we show that the induction of NGF mRNA by FGF‐2 is localized in MAP2–immunoreactive neurons. These results suggest roles for FGF‐2 in the development of hippocampal neurons and in the maintenance of connections in the central nervous system, particularly the septo‐hippocampal pathway, via the regulation of an important neurotrophins