Basic fibroblast growth factor-like immunoreactivity in the rat basilar artery with reference to co-localization with NADPH-diaphorase in the trigeminal ganglion.

The location of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-like immunoreactivity and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase (neuronal nitric oxide synthase) activity in the rat basilar artery and in the trigeminal, sphenopalatine and superior cervical ganglia was investigated. bFGF immunoreactivity was seen mainly in adventitial nerve fibers of the rat basilar artery, but not in the endothelium. Electron microscopy of the tunica media showed a number of immunoreactive nerve endings in the vicinity of local smooth muscle cells. Among the cranial ganglia that innervate the basilar artery, only the trigeminal ganglion had bFGF-immunoreactivity neurons. Nerve cells and fibers with NADPH-diaphorase activity were detected in the basilar artery and in the sphenopalatine and trigeminal ganglia, and the co-localization of bFGF and NADPH-diaphorase was noted only in the trigeminal ganglion. Furthermore, Fluro-gold tracing in combination with bFGF immunohistochemistry demonstrated that bFGF-containing nerve fibers in the wall of the basilar artery arise from the trigeminal ganglion. These findings provide a morphological basis for the nitric oxide-mediated dilatation of cerebral arteries by bFGF.