Co-localization of basic fibroblast growth factor-like immunoreactivity and its receptor mRNA in the rat spinal cord and the dorsal root ganglion.
In the present study, we examined the localizations of basic fibroblast growth factor-like immunoreactivity (bFGF-LI) and its receptor mRNA in the spinal cord and the dorsal root ganglion of the rat. Anti-bFGF peptide antibody and cRNA probe were employed to visualize the localizations of bFGF-LI and FGF receptor (FGF-R) mRNA, respectively. In the spinal cord, we observed that a number of neurons including the motor neurons and interneurons were positive for both substances. In the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), the large neurons preferentially showed co-localization of bFGF-LI and FGF-R mRNA, while the small neurons were not always positive for both. Given the fact that FGF-R is a membrane-spanning protein, these findings suggest the following two possibilities: (1) bFGF acts on the neurons of the spinal cord and the DRG in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner; (2) FGF-R mRNA-positive neurons take up bFGF from innervating neurons and/or surrounding glias in a receptor-mediated fashion.
Kato
H
H
Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Wanaka
A
A
Tohyama
M
M
D000818:Animals; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D007106:Immune Sera; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
D007106:Immune Sera; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2