Perinatal asphyxia increases bFGF mRNA levels and DA cell body number in the mesencephalon of rats.

The present investigation was undertaken in order to study the long-term effects of perinatal asphyxia on basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene expression and the number of dopamine nerve cell bodies in the mesencephalon of the rat. Asphyxia was induced during birth for 19-20 min. A 30% increase in the number of tyrosine-hydroxylase immunoreactive (TH-IR) nerve cell bodies (i.e. dopamine-containing neurones) as well as a 50% increase in bFGF gene expression following asphyxia was found in the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area 4 weeks after birth. The increase in bFGF mRNA levels may underlie the increase found in the number of dopamine cell bodies. The present results indicate that asphyxia during birth can prime the long-term development of the central nervous system.