EXPRESSION OF FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR IN ADULT-MOUSE UTRICLE DAMAGED BY STREPTOMYCIN SULFATE

The expression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor was investig ated in adult mouse utricles damaged by streptomycin sulfate using con focal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), The nerve endings in the mouse utricles could be detected by the immunoreactivity of neurofilament b y CLSM. In the utricles of control adult mice, little expression of FG F receptor could be detected by a method of double staining for FGF re ceptor and neurofilament immunoreactivities. However, the expression o f FGF immunoreactivity increased in the nerve endings of the damaged u tricles. This result suggests that FGF is probably related to the syna ptic plasticity in the adult mouse utricles.