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Immunolocalization of basic fibroblast growth factor during chicken cardiac development.
S A Consigli1, J Joseph-Silverstein
1Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, Jamaica, New York 11439.
Journal of Cellular Physiology
|March 1, 1991
Summary
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) plays a role in cardiac myogenesis. This study maps bFGF expression in developing chick hearts, revealing its correlation with myocyte proliferation and differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is present in cardiac myocytes and myocardial tissue.
- bFGF regulates cardiac myocyte proliferation and differentiation in vitro.
- Myocyte-derived bFGF may influence heart vascularization and innervation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a spatial and temporal map of bFGF expression in the developing chick heart.
- To investigate the role of bFGF in cardiac myogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical techniques were used.
- Monospecific polyclonal rabbit antihuman bFGF IgG was employed.
- bFGF expression was analyzed in developing chick hearts.
Main Results:
- bFGF expression decreased in the ventricular myocardium with increasing developmental age.
- bFGF was localized to the cytoplasm of cardiac myocytes.
- No bFGF immunoreactivity was found in vascular endothelium or smooth muscle.
Conclusions:
- The spatial and temporal pattern of bFGF expression correlates with myocyte proliferation and differentiation.
- bFGF likely plays a role in the autocrine regulation of cardiac myocyte proliferation and differentiation.