MICE EXPRESSING A BOVINE BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR TRANSGENE IN THE BRAIN SHOW INCREASED RESISTANCE TO HYPOXEMIC-ISCHEMIC CEREBRAL-DAMAGE

Background and Purpose: Cerebral intraventricular infusion of acidic o r basic fibroblast growth factor has been shown to attenuate ischemic damage to hippocampal CA1 neurons in the gerbil. The purpose of the pr esent study was to determine if the basic fibroblast growth factor tra nsgenic mouse has an enhanced ability to resist the effects of severe cerebral hypoxemia-oligemia. Methods: Mice that were transgenic for bo vine basic fibroblast growth factor were exposed to right carotid arte ry ligation, hyperglycemia, and 20 minutes of 1% carbon monoxide. Afte r 5 days' recovery, brains were examined for histological damage. Resu lts: Counts of CA1 neurons in the right hippocampus showed a significa ntly higher number of neurons per millimeter CA1 in hypoxic-ischemic t ransgenic mice compared with nontransgenic controls (transgenic, 260+/ -33; nontransgenic, 151+/-37 neurons per millimeter CA1; P<.05). Concl usions: The results indicate that basic fibroblast growth factor trans genic mice, as judged by CA1 hippocampal neuronal survival, have an en hanced ability to resist the effects of a complex hypoxic-ischemic cer ebral insult.