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Insulin-like and fibroblast growth factors in spinal cords, nerve roots and skeletal muscle of human controls and patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

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Abstract

Insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) and fibroblast growth factors [acidic FGF (aFGF) and basic FGF (bFGF)] are trophic for motor neurones in vitro and (in laboratory animals) in vivo. An immunohistochemical investigation was performed on the distribution of these factors in the neuromuscular system of control patients and patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Comparisons were made with rat tissue. IGF-I immunoreactivity (IGF-I-IR) was seen in motor neurone cell bodies and axons, astroglia and Schwann cells, and in muscle fibres. IGF-II-IR was weak in all these cells. aFGF-IR was present in motor neurone cell bodies and axons, oligodendroglia and muscle fibres, but was not demonstrable in Schwann cells. bFGF-IR was present in motor neurone cell bodies and axons, and in astroglia, but was not seen in Schwann cells or muscle fibres. The distribution of the IGFs and FGFs in material from motor neurone disease (MND) and controls was similar. A role for any of these factors in the etiology of MND is, therefore, unlikely. IGF-I-IR and aFGF-IR were stronger in type II than in type I muscle fibres and were increased in denervated fibres. Species differences were found for IGF-I and bFGF. The function of these factors is apparently not entirely similar in humans and rats.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, University of Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, NL-3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    H. Kerkhoff, S. M. Hassan, R. W. Van Etten, H. Veldman & F. G. I. Jennekens

  2. Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    D. Troost

Authors
  1. H. Kerkhoff
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  2. S. M. Hassan
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  3. D. Troost
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  4. R. W. Van Etten
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  5. H. Veldman
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  6. F. G. I. Jennekens
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Supported by a grant from the Dutch Foundation for Research into Spinal Muscular Atrophy and ALS

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Kerkhoff, H., Hassan, S.M., Troost, D. et al. Insulin-like and fibroblast growth factors in spinal cords, nerve roots and skeletal muscle of human controls and patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol 87, 411–421 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313611

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313611

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