[Ischemia and reperfusion reduce the mRNA expression of endogenous basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in rat skeletal muscles].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the expression of bFGF gene in normal and wounded rat skeletal muscles.

METHODS

In situ hybridization and quantitative PCR methods were used to evaluate the location of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mRNA and the amount of bFGF mRNA expression in normal, ischemic or ischemic and reperfused rat skeletal muscles.

RESULTS

According to the intensity of the stain in situ hybridization, four main classes of fibers could be identified: strong, moderate, weak and negative stained fibers. bFGF mRNA was found in the cytoplasm in both normal and wounded muscles; however, the signal intensity was much stronger in normal muscles. In the normal muscles, bFGF mRNA was distributed irregularly and sparsely, and 82% of fibers had positive bFGF mRNA staining, and only 52% and 22% of fibers in ischemic or ischemic and reperfused muscles were positive for bFGF mRNA staining in situ hybridization. The results in quantitative PCR study supported the concept of the reduced bFGF mRNA expression in the wounded muscles.

CONCLUSIONS

The loss of stored bFGF in wounded skeletal muscles as we showed previously is also caused by its increased damage and reduced secretion.