Acid fibroblast growth factor reduces rat intestinal mucosal damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion insult.
OBJECTIVE
To detect the effects of acid fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) on apoptosis and proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells in differentiation or proliferation status to explore the protective mechanisms of aFGF.


METHODS
Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated control group (C, n=6), intestinal ischemia group (I, n=6), aFGF treatment group (A, n=48) and intestinal ischemia-reperfusion group (R, n=48). Apoptosis of intestinal mucosal cells was determined with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein expression and distribution were detected with immunohistochemical method. Plasma levels of D-lactate were determined with modified Brandts method.


RESULTS
In A group, administration of exogenous aFGF could improve intestinal histological structure and decrease plasma D-lactate levels at 2-12 h after the reperfusion compared with R group. The apoptotic rates and PCNA protein expressions were not increased until 2 h after reperfusion and were maximal at 12 h. After reperfusion for 2-12 h, the apoptotic rates were gradually augmented along the length of jejunal crypt-villus units. Administration of aFGF could significantly reduce the apoptotic response at 2-12 h after reperfusion (P<0.05). Apoptosis rates in villus and crypt epithelial cells in A group at 12 h after reperfusion were (62.5+/-5.5)% and (73.2+/-18.6)% of those in R group, respectively. Treatment of aFGF could apparently induce protein expression of PCNA in intestinal mucosal cells of A group compared with R group during 2-12 h after reperfusion (P<0.05). There were approximately 1.3- and 1.5-times increments of PCNA expression levels in villus and crypt cells in A group at 12 h after reperfusion compared with R group, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Intestinal I/R insult could lead to histological structure change and apoptotic rate increment. The protective effects of aFGF against ischemia/reperfusion in rat intestinal mucosa might be partially due to its ability to inhibit ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis and to promote cell proliferation of crypt cells and villus epithelial cells.
Chen
Wei
W
Wound Healing and Cell Biology Laboratory, Burns Institute, 304th Clinical Department, General Hospital of PLA, 51 Fu Cheng Road, Beijing 100037, China.
Fu
Xiao-Bing
XB
Ge
Shi-Li
SL
Sun
Tong-Zhu
TZ
Li
Wen-Juan
WJ
Sheng
Zhi-Yong
ZY
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*
D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1