BASIC AND ACIDIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTORS PROTECT SPINAL MOTOR-NEURONS IN-VIVO AFTER EXPERIMENTAL SPINAL-CORD INJURY

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.