Expression patterns of acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor in loach fish embryos.

Heparin-binding fractions were taken from the heparin sepharose columns on which extracts of loach fish (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) embryos from blastula, gastrula, 4-8 and 12-16 somites stages were applied. These heparin-binding fractions, except the fraction derived from 12-16 somite embryos, showed potent mitogenic activity on fibroblast-like cells derived from caudal fin blastema of goldfish. Western blot analysis of these heparin-binding fractions was carried out using monoclonal antibodies against human acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (FGF-1 and-2). An immunoreactive FGF-1 band at 16 kD was detected in the heparin-binding fraction derived from embryos in each stage of blastula, gastrula and 4-8 somites. An immunoreactive FGF-2 band at 17 kDa was detected exclusively in the heparin-binding fraction derived from 4-8 somite embryos. In the heparin-binding fraction derived from 12-16 somite embryos neither immunoreactive FGF-1 nor-2 member band was detectable.