Inhibitory effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on apoptosis induced by β-amyloid in cultured hippocampal neurons of neonatal rats

Aim: To clarify the effect of bFGF on the apoptosis in the primary cultured hippocampal neurons of neonatal rats and its potential application in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Methods: Hoechst staining, Annexin-V, DNA agarose gel electophoresis, Western blot were used to detect the expression of apoptosis-related gene bcl-2, bax. Results: Morphological and biochemical characteristics of apoptosis, such as internuclear DNA fragment, production of apoptotic bodies, were observed in hippocampal neurons treated with Aβ_(25-35). However, in hippocampal neurons treated with bFGF+Aβ_(25-35), the above changes were significantly reversed. The expression of Bcl-2 was up-regulated while that of Bax was down-regulated. Conclusion:bFGF can inhibit the neurotoxity of A β_(25-35) to neurons by regulating the expression of the apoptosis-related gene Bcl-2 and Bax.