BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR PROTECTS THE
NEONATAL BRAIN AGAINST HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC DAMAGE
Xin Y, Han YK, Gao H, Sun GL
The Second Clinical
College of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
Objective: To investigate the protective effects
of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage
(HIBD) in neonatal rats.
Methods: HIBD model was established in 63 Wistar
rats of 7-day-old, the macro- and micro-morphological features in HIBD rats
treated with bFGF were compared with those in HIBD rats without the
treatment of bFGF.
Results: Two weeks after hypoxic-ischemia (HI),
the brain tissue at the carotid ligation lateral of neonatal rats showed severe
injury. The incidences of brain atrophy, malacia and cavitation were 73.3%,
60.0% and 26.7% respectively. The treatment with bFGF could greatly relieve
the cerebral injury of HI, and reduce the incidences of brain atrophy and
malacia to 31.0% and 24.1%, respectively (P<0.05). The ultra-structure
of neurons, endothelial cells and glia in hippocampus also degenerated
greatly following HI, while it could be relieved with the treatment of bFGF
when compared with the control group.
Conclusion: bFGF appeared globally neuroprotective
effects on the developing brain in a neonatal model of HIBD, and its
mechanisms might be associated with promoting the recovery of the neurons.