Basic fibroblast growth factor prevents ontogenetic neuron death in vivo.
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a mitogen and a potent neurotrophic protein for ciliary ganglionic (CG) neurons in vitro. Recombinant bFGF was administered to the chorionic-allantoic membrane of chick embryos during the period of ontogenetic neuron death in the cholinergic CG between embryonic days (E) 8 and E14. Neuronal losses in untreated chicks and in embryos that received the vehicle only (phosphate-buffered saline plus cytochrome c) amounted to 44%. Basic FGF permitted the survival of 87% of the neurons present at E8. There were no apparent differences in the size and number of non-neuronal cells in CG. These data add to the increasing body of evidence that bFGF is an important multifunctional growth factor with a neurotrophic capacity.
Dreyer
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D
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Marburg, F.R.G.
Lagrange
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A
Grothe
C
C
Unsicker
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002642:Chick Embryo; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology*
D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors