Xa. Liu et al., Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on focal ischemic injury and antioxidant enzyme activities, ACT PHAR SI, 20(3), 1999, pp. 227-231
AIM: To explore the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on foca
l cerebral ischemic injury and antioxidant enzyme activities. METHODS: Rats
underwent 24-h middle cerebral artery occlusion by intraluminal suture. In
farction volume was shown with staining and quantitated by image analysis s
ystem. Neurologic deficit scores were determined with a 0 - 5 grade scale.
Antioxidant enzyme activities of forebrains were detected. RESULTS: bFGF (4
5 mu g.kg(-1).h(-1) iv for 3 h, started 5 min after the onset of ischemia)
showed potent neuroprotective effects. Infarction volumes were decreased fr
om 272 mm(3) +/- 22 mm(3) (saline-treated) to 201 mm(3) +/- 30 mm(3) (bFGF-
treated). Neurologic deficit scores were decreased from 3.6 +/- 1.5 (saline
-treated) to 2.3 +/- 1.6 (bFGF-treated). Focal cerebral ischemia induced an
increase in the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase ( SOD),
glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), but a decrease in the level of glutathion
e s-transferase (GSH-ST). Treatment of bFGF further increased the CAT activ
ity but had no effect on the activities of SOD, GSH-PX, and GSH-ST. CONCLUS
ION: bFGF has a neuroprotective effect against focal cerebral ischemic inju
ry. The elevation of CAT activity by bFGF may be involved in this effect.