TY - JOUR T1 - α<sub>2</sub>-Adrenergic Agonists Induce Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Expression in Photoreceptors <strong><em>In Vivo</em></strong> and Ameliorate Light Damage JF - The Journal of Neuroscience JO - J. Neurosci. SP - 5986 LP - 5992 DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.16-19-05986.1996 VL - 16 IS - 19 AU - Rong Wen AU - Tong Cheng AU - Yiwen Li AU - Wei Cao AU - Roy H. Steinberg Y1 - 1996/10/01 UR - http://www.jneurosci.org/content/16/19/5986.abstract N2 - We observed an induction of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mRNA in the rat retina after systemic administration of the α2-adrenergic agonists xylazine and clonidine. A single injection of xylazine or clonidine transiently increased bFGF mRNA. Preinjection of yohimbine, an α2-adrenergic antagonist, completely inhibited this increase. Higher dosage of yohimbine inhibited the baseline expression of bFGF. Of particular interest is the finding that the induced bFGF expression occurred almost exclusively in the inner segment region of photoreceptors. No increase in bFGF mRNA was found in the brain after either xylazine or clonidine injection. Xylazine or clonidine given systemically before and during constant light exposure also reduces photoreceptor degeneration in albino rats. These results indicate that regulation of bFGF expression in photoreceptors is unique in the CNS and suggest that endogenous bFGF promotes photoreceptor survival. ER -