Regulation of neurogenesis in the embryonic and adult brain by fibroblast growth factors.

The development of the nervous system is partly regulated by growth factors, especially by members of the fibroblast growth factor family (FGF) family. Both the proliferation and differentiation of neuronal precursor cells within the developing neural tube appear to depend upon appropriate stimulation with FGF-1 or FGF-2. Recently, it has been shown that cells residing in the sub-ventricular zone of adult brains have characteristics of neuronal precursors: they can respond to FGF-2 by proliferation and FGF-1 induces neuronal differentiation. Thus, it appears that the adult central nervous system has the potential to replace damaged neurons if the precursor cell can be stimulated with the appropriate growth factor. Exposure of the embryo to alcohol appears to diminish the proliferation of the ventricular layer and subsequently reduced the number of neurons generated. This suggests that alcohol may inhibit FGF action, and exogenous administration of factors may provide a mechanism for stimulating or overcoming deficits resulting from such exposure.