Yd. Teng et al., BASIC AND ACIDIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTORS PROTECT SPINAL MOTOR-NEURONS IN-VIVO AFTER EXPERIMENTAL SPINAL-CORD INJURY, European journal of neuroscience, 10(2), 1998, pp. 798-802
We studied the effect of a single focal injection of recombinant basic
(FGF2) or acidic (FGF1) fibroblast growth factor on the survival of s
pinal motor neurones at 24 h after a standardized spinal cord contusio
n injury (SCI) in the rat. Both FGF2 and FGF1 (3 mu g), microinjected
into the injury site at 5 min post-injury (p.i.), protected at least t
wo functionally important classes of spinal motor neurones, autonomic
preganglionic neurones in the intermediolateral (IML) column and somat
ic motor neurones in the ventral horn OIH). Moreover, there was enhanc
ed choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunoreactivity in surviving VH a
nd IML neurones, suggesting an improved functional status. Thus, neuro
trophic factors such as FGF2 and FGF1 may contribute to an overall str
ategy to treat acute SCI and improve recovery of function.