Fibroblast Growth Factor

There are numerous fibroblast growth factors (FGF) in our central nervous system. Members in the FGF family play different roles in the Central Nervous system (CNS) [2]. In the FGF family, there are 23 members of FGF, 10 of those are expressed in the CNS, including FGFR 1-4 [2]. There is great focus on FGF 2,8,15, and 17. FGF2 and 15 are stated throughout the CNS [2]. FGF8 and 17 are confined to specific regions in the brain and only expressed during the beginning stages in the embryo proliferation and neurogenesis [2] . The FGF is also involved in the development and maintenance of the nervous system [4]. Recent advances in isolating and maintaining stem cells have shown FGF2, and 5 are one of the key factors of proliferation and differentiation.
FGF8 is involved in the organization process of CNS. There have been numerous occasions when this notion has been supported and shown in studies. One study done by Tanaka, explained how ectopically implanted FGF had the ability to transform the forebrain to the midbrain [4]. Another study was conducted that showed hypomorphic FGF8 mutant mice demonstrated severe cerebral anomalies [4]. These two studies explained the role of FGF8 in early neurogenesis [4]. In recent studies, FGF8 plays a role in determining the dopaminergic neuronal cell fate and in neuronal protection against oxidative stress in cultured hippocampal neurons [4]. FGF8 seems to play more important roles in the CNS then one thought before, by the studies mentioned, we could know the localization of the FGF8 in the
Immunohistochemically method can be done for the localization of FGF8 during neurogenesis. In the study performed by Tanaka, sections of the mouse embryos were dissected and examined. Under close observation Tanaka discovered that the neurons at the marginal zones of the developing CNS as well as the Dorsal root ganglia were immunostained for FGF8 [4]. Later Tanaka found that the expression of FGF8 in enteric intermuscular neurons, Dorsal Root ganglion (DRG’s), and paraaortic sympathetic ganglia [4]. The FGF8 immunostaining was proven by immunoabsorption testing which confirmed the expression of FGF8.
In this experiment, FGF8 transcript was sensed in the emerging DRG’s by an ISH method. In situ hybridization is a strong technique to locate specific nucleic acid targets, within fixed tissues and cells [1] The expression of FGF8 in the CNS was correlated with MAP2 which proved that the neuronal characteristics were FGF8 expressing cells [4]. Another study by Tanaka, using immunostaining showed positive results when adult mouse brains expressed FGF8 in cebreal cortical neurons