Interactions between basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and glycosoaminoglycans in promoting neurite outgrowth

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a heparin-binding protein which has trophic effects on hippocampal neurons in vitro. It stimulates neurite extension when bound to surfaces coated with heparin, heparan sulfate, or hyaluronic acid, but not chondroitin sulfate or dermatan sulfate. Stimulation of neurite growth correlated strongly with the amount of [125I]bFGF bound by the different glycosoaminoglycans. Providing accessible stores of bFGF might be one function of glycosoaminoglycans during development.