The Journal of Neuroscience, October 1, 1998, 18(19):7881-7890
Basic FGF Increases Communication between Cells of the Developing
Neocortex
B.
Nadarajah1,
H.
Makarenkova2,
D. L.
Becker1,
W. H.
Evans3, and
J. G.
Parnavelas1
1 Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and
2 Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Cell
Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom,
and 3 Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of
Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff CF4 4XN, United Kingdom
We have found that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), applied
to cortical progenitor cells in vitro, produces an
increase in the expression of the gap junction protein connexin (Cx) 43 and in the mRNA encoding Cx 43. This effect was evident in both proliferating and nonproliferating cells. The elevated levels of mRNA
suggest that bFGF is likely to exert its effect by upregulating the
rate of transcription of the Cx 43 gene. We have further shown that the
increase in Cx 43 expression is mediated through the receptor tyrosine
kinase pathway and is associated with enhanced intercellular
dye-coupling mediated by gap junctions. These results suggest that gap
junction channels provide a direct conduit for mitogens released in
response to bFGF to effectively regulate proliferation during
corticogenesis.
Key words:
connexin 43; gap junctions; dye-coupling; bFGF; development; neocortex
Copyright © 1998 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/98/18197881-10$05.00/0
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