Fibroblast growth factors are present in adult cardiac myocytes, in vivo [corrected and issued with original paging in Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1988 Dec 30;157(3)].

We have previously shown that the adult heart contains mitogens immunologically identical to acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors. To determine whether these proteins are present in myocytes, we subjected lysates of freshly isolated myocytes to heparin-affinity chromatography. The 1.1 M - 3 M NaCl eluates stimulated incorporation of thymidine into DNA in quiescent Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts, caused proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, and cross-reacted with antisera raised against acidic (1.1 M) and basic FGF's (1.5 M) by Western blotting and by RIA. These proteins may be involved in cellular differentiation and proliferation and may play an important role in regenerative and repair processes in the heart.