Basic FGF is present in dopaminergic neurons of the ventral midbrain of the rat.
Immunocytochemistry procedures and 6-hydroxy-dopamine-induced degeneration of dopamine nerve cells provided evidence that practically all tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive (IR) neurons of the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area contain cytoplasmic basic fibroblast growth factor immunoreactivity (bFGF IR), while many astroglial cells in the neostriatum and substantia nigra contain nuclear bFGF IR. RNA blot analysis demonstrated strong expression of a major 3.7 kb bFGF mRNA in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. These results indicate that bFGF may be a significant growth factor in the DA neurons.
Department of Histology and Neurobiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
A
A
Cintra
Y H
YH
Cao
C
C
Oellig
B
B
Tinner
F
F
Bortolotti
M
M
Goldstein
R F
RF
Pettersson
K
K
Fuxe
D000818:Animals; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000633:toxicity; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D016627:Oxidopamine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine