Immunolocalization of basic fibroblast growth factor during wound repair in rat retina after laser photocoagulation.
BACKGROUND
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) stimulates the mitogenesis of various cells and plays a key role in wound repair. We studied the immunohistochemical localization of bFGF during wound repair in the rat retina after laser photocoagulation.


METHODS
Krypton laser photocoagulation was performed on the eyes of pigmented rats. The eyes were enucleated on days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 after the photocoagulation, and the immunohistochemical localization of bFGF was assessed. Two different monoclonal antibodies and one polyclonal antibody against bFGF as first antibodies were used.


RESULTS
Marked immunoreactivity for bFGF was found in the ganglion cell layer, and weak immunoreactivity for bFGF was found in the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells of the normal adult rat retina. On day 3 after laser photocoagulation, the nuclei and cytoplasm of proliferating RPE cells at the center of the photocoagulated lesion showed intense bFGF immunoreactivity. The nuclei of RPE cells around the lesion showed intense bFGF immunoreactivity. Macrophages that migrated into the lesion showed positive staining for bFGF. These immunoreactivity decreased with time. Controls (0.05 M Tris-HCl buffer, normal serum, or these same antibodies preabsorbed with bFGF) did not show positive staining.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of an elevated expression of bFGF immunoreactivity in the photocoagulated lesion suggests that bFGF may play a role in wound repair in the rat retina after laser photocoagulation.
Yamamoto
C
C
Department of Ophthalmology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
Ogata
N
N
Yi
X
X
Takahashi
K
K
Miyashiro
M
M
Yamada
H
H
Uyama
M
M
Matsuzaki
K
K
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002455:Cell Division; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008297:Male; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2