Analysis of basic fibroblast growth factor in rats with inherited retinal degeneration

In RCS rats, photoreceptors degenerate between postnatal days 20 and 60, secondary to a genetic defect expressed in the neonatal retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE). Previous work has shown delay of the photoreceptor degeneration in this model by intraocular injection of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Evidence is presented here, from bFGF immunostaining and Northern analysis of bFGF mRNA, for reduced bFGF expression in uncultured RPE of dystrophic RCS pups. It is also shown that in the mutant eyes angiogenesis in the underlying choroid, which normally occurs between postnatal days 7 and 10, is markedly delayed, with irregular distribution of vessels, consistent with a reduction in this known angiogenesis factor. Mutational analysis of the bFGF transcript and gene by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and Southern analysis did not, however, reveal abnormalities in the coding sequence of this gene in RCS rats.