Systemic administration of acidic fibroblast growth factor ameliorates the ischemic injury of the retina in rats

doi:10.1016/S0304-3940(98)00672-7

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 255, Issue 1, 9 October 1998, Pages 1-4

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(98)00672-7 Get rights and content

Abstract

The central neuroprotective effects against ischemic injury of fibroblast growth factor (FGF), administered either directly into the central nervous system or systemically, is well documented. Here we show in a rat model of transient retinal ischemia that the neuroprotective effect of systemically administered acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF, FGF-1) extends to the retina. Histological findings show a lower decrease of retinal ganglion cells and inner nuclear layer cells (P<0.0001) in animals receiving FGF-1. These results suggest that FGF may function as a natural protection agent during transient retinal ischemia and further document that an efficient neuroprotection of central nervous tissues can be obtained by systemic administration of this protein. Our data may, thus, contribute to the development of novel and safe therapeutic approach for the treatment of the ischemic injury of the retina.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Ch. Bourdier for editorial assistance and A. Fernández for technical aid. This work was supported by Fundación Futuro.

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Systemic administration of acidic fibroblast growth factor ameliorates the ischemic injury of the retina in rats

Abstract

Section snippets

Acknowledgements

Neuron

Surg. Neurol.

Brain Res.

Brain Res.

Exp. Eye Res.

Jpn. J. Pharmacol.

Semin. Neurosci.

Gene

Neurosci. Lett.

Excitotoxins: a possible new mechanism for the pathogenesis of ischemic retinal damage

Arch. Ophthalmol.

Central nervous system distribution of fibroblast growth factor injected into the blood stream

Neurol. Res.

Acidic fibroblast growth factor rescues gerbil hippocampal neurons from ischemic apoptotic death

Neurol. Res.