Study On The Mechanism Of Neuroprotective Effects Of FGF-2 In The Mouse Model Of ALS

Objective: By observing the effects of fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF- 2) on NPCs and S-IR boutons of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) SOD1 G93 A G1H transgenic mice brain stem to discuss the underlying mechanisms on neuroprotective effects of FGF-2.Methods: There were 80 SOD1 G93 A G1H transgenic mice, half females and half males.The animals were randomly divided into two groups: SOD1 G93 A G1H transgenic group(SOD1)and FGF-2-trented group(FGF-2),40 mice in each group.Non-transgenic wild type group(WT),40 mice in this group, half females and half males.The FGF-2 group were treated with FGF-2 at postnatal day 60(P60).All three groups were examined at postnatal day 90(P90) and 120(P120) respectively. We studied the changes of NPCs and S-IR boutons by immunohistochemical staining technique.Results: 1.Mice were examined at postnatal day 90(P90) and 120(P120), the numbers of nestin+ NPCs were(46.50±24.17) and(146.88±44.64)in the SOD1 group,(77.25±26.94) and(285.13±102.74) in the FGF-2group. A marked increase was detected in the FGF-2 mice compared to the SOD1 mice at P120(P<0.01).2. Mice were examined at postnatal day 90(P90) and 120(P120), the densities of nestin+ NPCs were(0.50±0.30)per mm2 and(1.25±0.41)per mm2 in the SOD1 group,(0.67±0.29)per mm2 and(2.52±0.52)per mm2 in the FGF-2 group. A marked increase was detected in the FGF-2 mice compared to the SOD1 mice at P120(P<0.01).3. At P120 there were a clear decrease in the densities of S-IR boutons in the SOD1 mice(0.52±0.15) per mm2 and FGF-2 mice(0.76±0.07) per mm2 compared to the WT mice(0.90±0.11) per mm2, but a significant decrease in the densities of S-IR boutons were also detected in the SOD1 mice compared to the FGF-2 mice(P<0.05).Conclusion: FGF-2 may be a useful treatment to provide neuroprotection against neurodegeneration in ALS by encouraging the proliferation of NPCs and delaying the decrease in the density of S-IR boutons.