Delayed administration of basic fibroblast growth factor protects against N-methyl-D-aspartate neurotoxicity in neonatal rats.

Neuroprotective effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) (200 mu/kg i.p.) were examined at different time points following intrastriatal injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) in seven-day-old rats. When administered 0.5 h before intrastriatal NMDA injection, 200 micrograms/kg of bFGF significantly reduced NMDA-induced lesion by 47% as compared with vehicle treatment. Posttreatment with the same dose of bFGF at 0, 0.5 or 1 h after NMDA injection also significantly reduced those lesions by 45, 35 or 26%, respectively, while no neuroprotective effects was observed when administered at 2 or 4 h after NMDA injection.