title: Intranasal bFGF-induced progenitor cell proliferation and neuroprotection after transient focal cerebral ischemia.
abstract: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a neurotrophic and vasoactive factor, and has therapeutic potential for some central nervous system (CNS) disorders. In this study, we used the intranasal pathway to administer bFGF in adult rats, and evaluated its neuroprotective benefits and effects on endogenous neural stem cells. The bFGF levels after intranasal administration in normal rats were determined by western blot. Transient focal ischemia was achieved by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 2 h. bFGF was given intranasally 2 h after reperfusion and daily thereafter on 3 successive days. Dividing progenitor cells were labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) on day 3 of reperfusion. Rats were killed the next day after BrdU labeling. bFGF levels were significantly raised in the olfactory bulb (OB) and striatum following intranasal administration. Intranasal bFGF treatment improved neurological function and reduced infarct volume after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, while no influence was observed on the blood pressure. And the BrdU incorporation was enhanced in the ipsilateral subventricular zone (SVZ) and striatum following intranasal administration of bFGF. These results demonstrated that bFGF can be directly delivered into brain following intranasal administration, and protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. The protective effects may be attributed to the reduction of infarct volume and enhancement of endogenous progenitors in brain. Therefore, intranasal administration of bFGF may provide an alternative treatment for brain ischemia and some other CNS disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 305# East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Min-Min
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Song-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Hai-Han
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Xue-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Ge-Lin
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xin-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2