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Effect of intranasal administration of basic fibroblast growth factor on olfactory epithelium

Tasuku Nishikawa1, Kiyoshi Doi, Naoki Ochi

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.

Neuroreport
|April 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) nasal application boosts olfactory epithelium cell proliferation, particularly in aging mice. This promotes the growth of supporting cells and globose basal cells, crucial for olfactory neuron regeneration.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Regenerative Medicine

Background:

  • The olfactory epithelium contains stem cells crucial for olfactory receptor neuron regeneration.
  • Aging can impair the regenerative capacity of the olfactory epithelium.
  • Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is known to play roles in cell growth and tissue repair.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of intranasal bFGF administration on the olfactory epithelium.
  • To determine if bFGF can enhance cell proliferation in both young and aging mice.
  • To assess the impact of bFGF on different cell types within the olfactory epithelium.

Main Methods:

  • Intranasal administration of bFGF twice daily for 6 weeks in young (2.5-month-old) and aging (7-month-old) mice.
  • Immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), olfactory marker protein (OMP), and GAP43.
  • Quantification of positive cells in the olfactory epithelium.

Main Results:

  • Significant increase in PCNA-positive supporting cells in the olfactory epithelium.
  • Significant increase in GAP43-positive globose basal cells, especially in aging mice.
  • No significant changes observed in OMP-positive mature olfactory receptor neurons.

Conclusions:

  • Topical bFGF promotes the proliferation of supporting cells and globose basal cells in the olfactory epithelium.
  • bFGF may enhance the regenerative potential of the olfactory epithelium, particularly in aging individuals.
  • Further research is warranted to explore bFGF's therapeutic potential for olfactory dysfunction.

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