Effects of exogenous bFGF on nestin expression in neonatal rats brain after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage

Objectives To investigate the effect of exogenous basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)on brain nestin expression after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage(HIBD)in neonatal rat.Methods Eighty HIBD models of neonatal Wistar rats were made by shearing right arteria carotis communis and then breathing 8%O2+92%N2 for two hours.The models were divided into two groups randomly:the trial group of bFGF and the control group.Other forty rats were taken into the sham operation group.Expressions of nestin were examined with immunohistochemical staining at the 4th,7th,10th,17th and 24th days after the operation.Results The number of nestin-positive cells in hippocampal CA1 region was the highest in the trial group,higher than in the control group,in comparison with the sham operation group,there was a significantly difference in three groups at all points(P 0.01).Conclusions 1.The expression of nestin increased in the brain of neonatal rats with HIBD,it might indicate the regeneration of neurocytes after HIBD.2.Exogenous bFGF could enhance the expression of nestin,which may play an important role in restoration of the neurons damage after hypoxia-ischemia.