INJURY-INDUCED REDUCTION OF ACIDIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR LEVELS IN THE DISTAL PARTS OF RAT SCIATIC-NERVE

Acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) level in sciatic nerve after lesioning was measured by enzyme immunoassay to determine if aFGF functions as a neurotrophic factor like nerve growth factor (NGF). Whereas the NGF level increased in distal segments, the aFGF level there decreased after transection or crushing and recovered to the original level by 10 weeks after crushing. The amount of aFGF mRNA in the sciatic nerve was extremely low to supply the high level of protein found in the sciatic nerve. Sympathetic ganglia, dorsal root ganglia, and spinal cord, which contain neuronal cell bodies extending their axons into the sciatic nerve, showed a greater or similar level of aFGF as sciatic nerve. These results imply that aFGF is synthesized in neuronal cell bodies and distributed anterogradely into their axons. Difference of injury-induced changes in levels between aFGF and NGF suggests distinct mechanisms of the effects elicited from these factors on regeneration of the sciatic nerve.