FASTING INCREASES THE EXPRESSION OF BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR (FGF-2) MESSENGER-RIBONUCLEIC-ACID IN RAT HYPOTHALAMUS

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) has been isolated from the brai n, but the regulation of FGF-2 synthesis in the brain is not yet fully understood. Since exogenously administered FGF-2 has been reported to suppress food intake as well as the secretion of gastric acid and pep sin in rats, we examined the effect of fasting on FGF-2 mRNA levels in the hypothalamus and the cerebral cortex of male rats, using RNase pr otection assay. Fasting for 72 h resulted in an approximately 2-fold i ncrease in FGF-2 mRNA level in the hypothalamus but did not affect FGF -2 mRNA level in the cerebral cortex significantly. These findings sup port the hypothesis that FGF-2 plays a significant role in regulation of hypothalamic function.