IGF-I and bFGF improve dopamine neuron survival and behavioral outcome in parkinsonian rats receiving cultured human fetal tissue strands

To promote dopamine cell survival in human fetal tissue strands transplante d into immunosuppressed 6-OHDA-lesioned rats, we have preincubated tissue i n insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I, 150 ng/ml) and basic fibroblast grow th factor (bFGF, 15 ng/ml) in vitro for 2 weeks. Growth factor treatment di d not affect the rate of homovanillic acid production in vitro but increase d overall dopamine neuron survival in animals after transplant from 1240 +/ - 250 to 2380 +/- 440 neurons (P < 0.05). Animals in the growth factor-trea ted group had a significantly greater reduction in methamphetamine-induced rotation (66%) compared to control transplants (30%, P < 0.05). We conclude that in vitro preincubation of human fetal tissue strands with IGF-I and b FGF improves dopamine cell survival and the behavioral outcome of transplan ts. (C) 2001 Academic Press.