title: FGF-2 induces nerve growth factor expression in cultured rat hippocampal neurons.
abstract: Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) is expressed in the hippocampus and has been demonstrated to promote neurotrophic effects on hippocampal neurons in vitro. We show that these neurons, even at the embryonic stage, express the mRNAs encoding the FGF receptors, bek and flg. We have characterized the effects of FGF-2 on the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) using the reverse transcription-coupled polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. In hippocampal neurons grown in the absence of serum, FGF-2 exposure induces an important elevation of NGF mRNA expression followed by a marked increase in NGF immunoreactivity. Combining in situ hybridization with an NGF probe and microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP2) immunocytochemistry we show that the induction of NGF mRNA by FGF-2 is localized in MAP2-immunoreactive neurons. These results suggest roles for FGF-2 in the development of hippocampal neurons and in the maintenance of connections in the central nervous system, particularly the septo-hippocampal pathway, via the regulation of an important neurotrophin.
authors.affiliation: Université Rene Descartes, Paris V, INSERM Unité 29, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferhat
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Represa
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zouaoui-Aggoun
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ferhat
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ben-Ari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khrestchatisky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000494:pharmacology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2