Acute intermittent nicotine treatment produces a reduction in the total number of FGF-2 immunoreactive astroglial cells in the substantia nigra of the rat: a stereological analysis.
To understand the morphological substrate of the nicotine effect on nigral FGF-2 expression, a stereological analysis of FGF-2 immunoreactive neuronal and glial profiles has been performed in the substantia nigra of the rat after acute intermittent nicotine treatment. The major finding of this paper is the demonstration that this type of nicotine treatment produces a significant reduction in the total number of nuclear FGF-2 immunoreactive astroglial profiles in the substantia nigra. A parallel analysis of nigral FGF-1 and FGF-5 immunoreactivities showed no effect of this type of nicotine treatment. The results may be explained by an inhibition of FGF-2 synthesis in a subpopulation of nigral astroglia by nicotinic receptor activation, favouring a reduction of astroglial neurotrophism in the substantia nigra.
Liu
Fang-Ling
FL
Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden.
Fuxe
Kjell
K
Belluardo
Natale
N
Leo
Giuseppina
G
Agnati
Luigi F
LF
Aguirre
Jose A
JA
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D009538:Nicotine