Basic fibroblast growth factor protects cerebrocortical neurons against excitatory amino acid toxicity in vitro.

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that basic fibroblast growth factor protects against excitatory amino acid toxicity in cultured hippocampal, striatal, and cerebellar neurons. In the current study, we examined the neuroprotective effects of this growth factor on cerebrocortical neurons, which are commonly involved in thromboembolic stroke. Dissociated neuron-glia cultures of embryonic rat cerebral cortex (12 days in vitro) were preincubated with basic fibroblast growth factor (0.1 to 100 ng/mL) for 6 hours before incubation with glutamate (0 to 1000 mumol/L) for 16 hours. The number of phase-bright neurons was taken as an index of neuronal survival. Basic fibroblast growth factor protected neurons against glutamate toxicity, especially at lower (10, 25, and 50 mumol/L), but not higher (100 and 1000 mumol/L), glutamate concentrations. Neuroprotection was seen at growth factor doses as low as 1 ng/mL. Basic fibroblast growth factor protects cultured cerebrocortical neurons against glutamate neurotoxicity.