title: The role of basic-fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) in cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxicity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of the b-fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) on cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced nephrotoxicity in the rat kidney was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rats were divided into six groups: A (control), B (b-FGF-treated), C, D: (CsA-treated and sacrificed on days 14 or 21), E, F (Cs A- and b-FGF- treated and sacrificed on days 14 or 21). The antibody mouse anti-rat CD31 was used to evaluate the kidney vessels present in histological preparations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The kidney vessels in group B were increased in comparison with the control group (p<0.05). Reduction of kidney vessels in groups C and D (p<0.05) in comparison with the controls was observed, while in groups E and F they were increased when compared to group C (p<0.05) and D (p<0.05), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The angiogenic role of b-FGF was confirmed in normal rats and a possible "protective" role of b-FGF was shown in rat kidney with CsA-induced nephrotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Democritus University of Thrace, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece. aefthim@med.duth.gr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Efthimiadou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambropoulou
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pagonopoulou
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vakalopoulos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nikolettos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000633:toxicity*; D004336:Drug Antagonism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D016572:Cyclosporine