title: Basic fibroblast growth factor dilates rat pial arterioles.
abstract: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a polypeptide that promotes the survival and differentiation of brain neurons, glia, and endothelial cells. It has been shown recently that intravenously administered bFGF lowers blood pressure by systemic vasodilation; this effect is mediated, in part, by nitric oxide (NO)-dependent mechanisms. In the current study, we directly evaluated the effect of bFGF on pial arterioles of pentobarbital-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 18) using the closed cranial window technique. Basic FGF (5-200 ng/ml) produced dose-dependent vasodilation; maximal vessel diameter (approximately 120% of control) was reached at 100 ng/ml. No vasodilation was found when bFGF was heat inactivated, or preincubated with blocking antibody. Moreover, bFGF-induced vasodilation was attenuated by coadministration of the NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), consistent with an NO-dependent mechanism. These results suggest that bFGF may play an important role in the regulation of cerebrovascular tone and cerebral blood flow.
authors.affiliation: Stroke Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosenblatt
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Irikura
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Caday
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Finklestein
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moskowitz
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001160:Arterioles / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D010841:Pia Mater / Q000098:blood supply*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester