Effects of pretreatment with basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor and nerve growth factor on neuron survival and neovascularization of superior cervical ganglion transplanted into the third ventricle in rats.

Effects of short-term treatment with basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) on neurite outgrowth of superior cervical ganglia (SCG) in culture or on neuron survival and neovascularization of SCG in a transplantation system were examined in rats. SCG were preincubated with FGF, EGF and/or NGF for 30 min and cultured with drug-free medium for 2 days. FGF or EGF neither promoted neurite outgrowth of SCG nor potentiated the NGF-induced neurite elongation in culture. In the transplantation study, SCG were exposed to these factors for 30 min and grafted into the third ventricle of adult rats for 14 days. Although pretreatment of NGF, FGF, EGF or the combination of NGF and EGF were not effective, there was better neuron survival in SCG grafts pretreated with 1 micrograms/ml NGF and 1 micrograms/ml FGF together. In addition, density of capillaries in these grafts was significantly greater than in the other group tested. These results suggest that the synergistic interaction between NGF and FGF cause rapid neovascularization, which can prevent neuron death after transplantation.