Basic fibroblast growth factor expression and tenascin C immunoreactivity after partial unilateral hemitransection of the rat brain

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene expression as well as its immunoreactivity were studied after partial unilateral hemitransection of the rat brain during a time course of 24 h, 72 h, 7 and 14 days. The mechanical injury resulted in a global increase of bFGF gene expression at the 24-h time interval. This global increase was seen at the ipsilateral site at the level of the lesion as well as rostral to the lesion in the ipsilateral hemisphere. The upregulation in bFGF gene expression was in most of the areas investigated due to an upregulation in glial cells as seen by means of nonradioactive in situ hybridization compared with immunocytochemistry for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Basic FGF immunoreactivity (IR) was increased around the lesion in glial cell nuclei 7 days after the injury. This increase was also detected in GFAP positive glial cells surrounding small vessels in the lesioned area. Moreover, in the present paper we demonstrate increased tenascin immunoreactivity in the lesioned area 7 days after injury. The tenascin IR was increased at the edges of the lesion as well as in vessel like structures. The tenascin IR was partially codistributed with GFAP IR in the lesioned area. The lesion was also characterized by an increase in vimentin IR as well as in laminin IR. It is suggested that the observed changes in the expression of bFGF, matrix proteins (laminin, tenascin) and intermediate filaments (vimentin) are involved in (a) tissue repair, (b) protection of neuronal cells from excitotoxic influences and (c) formation of new vessels in the lesioned area.