F. Gomez-pinilla et al., Visual input regulates the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and its receptor, NEUROSCIENC, 88(4), 1999, pp. 1051-1058
Emerging evidence indicates that the expression of trophic factors in the b
rain is regulated in an activity-dependent manner, which suggests an involv
ement of trophic factors in events controlled by input activity. We have in
vestigated the possibility that visual sensory input impacts the expression
of basic fibroblast growth factor and its receptor in the brain. Rats were
maintained for seven days in darkness and then re-exposed to normal illumi
nation for 0, 1, 3 or 6 h. We assessed relative levels of basic fibroblast
growth factor and fibroblast growth factor receptor messenger RNAs using nu
clease protection assays, and examined possible changes in the phenotypic e
xpression of basic fibroblast growth factor and its receptor using immunohi
stochemistry. There was a significant decrease in levels of basic fibroblas
t growth factor and fibroblast growth factor receptor messenger RNAs as a r
esult of dark rearing, and levels of messenger RNAs increased progressively
with light re-exposure. Changes in messenger RNAs were observed primarily
in the cerebral cortex (caudal portion) and were accompanied by alterations
in the staining intensity and density of cells exhibiting basic fibroblast
growth factor and fibroblast growth factor receptor phenotypes.
Regulation of the basic fibroblast growth factor system by sensory input su
ggests that basic fibroblast growth factor, and perhaps other trophic facto
rs, are mediators of the effects of experience on the structure and functio
n of the CNS. (C) 1998 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.