Stock A, Kuzis K, Woodward W R, Nishi R, Eckenstein F P
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201.
J Neurosci. 1992 Dec;12(12):4688-700. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.12-12-04688.1992.
The effects of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) in vitro include the stimulation of mitogenesis in a variety of non-neuronal cell types and the promotion of the survival of various central and peripheral neuronal populations. The precise physiological role of FGFs in vivo is currently not known. As a step toward understanding the role of FGFs in the nervous system, the present study determined the distribution of acidic FGF (aFGF) in the rat CNS. The levels of aFGF in dissected areas of the nervous system were quantified using a biological assay method, and the cellular distribution of aFGF was determined in tissue sections using immunohistochemical methods. aFGF was found to be localized within specific neuronal populations in the CNS and was absent from non-neuronal cells. Neurons containing aFGF immunoreactivity included magnocellular neurons in the septal area and nucleus basalis; some additional defined neuronal groups in the subcortical telencephalon; specific neuronal populations in the hypothalamus, the thalamus, the substantia nigra, the reticular formation, and the pons; and motor and sensory neurons. Cerebral cortex and hippocampus contained only a very limited number of aFGF-immunoreactive neurons. A significant overlap of neuronal populations known to express the low-affinity NGF receptor (LNGFR) with populations containing aFGF immunoreactivity was also observed. These neuronal populations are known to be affected by neurodegenerative diseases, and the possible functional implications of the presence of aFGF and the LNGFR in these cells are discussed.
成纤维细胞生长因子（FGFs）在体外的作用包括刺激多种非神经元细胞类型的有丝分裂，以及促进各种中枢和外周神经元群体的存活。目前尚不清楚FGFs在体内的确切生理作用。作为理解FGFs在神经系统中作用的第一步，本研究确定了酸性FGF（aFGF）在大鼠中枢神经系统中的分布。使用生物测定方法对神经系统解剖区域中的aFGF水平进行定量，并使用免疫组织化学方法在组织切片中确定aFGF的细胞分布。发现aFGF定位于中枢神经系统中的特定神经元群体内，而非神经元细胞中不存在。含有aFGF免疫反应性的神经元包括隔区和基底核中的大细胞神经元；皮质下端脑中的一些其他特定神经元群体；下丘脑、丘脑、黑质、网状结构和脑桥中的特定神经元群体；以及运动和感觉神经元。大脑皮层和海马体仅含有极少数aFGF免疫反应性神经元。还观察到已知表达低亲和力NGF受体（LNGFR）的神经元群体与含有aFGF免疫反应性的群体有显著重叠。已知这些神经元群体受神经退行性疾病影响，并讨论了这些细胞中aFGF和LNGFR存在的可能功能意义。
