In vivo effects of kFGF on embryonic nigral grafts in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Central injections of FGF have been reported to promote the survival of dopamine neurones in nigral grafts. With the goal of developing an improved delivery of trophic molecules, an immortalized RN22 Schwann cell line transfected with a secretory form of FGF, kFGF, was irradiated and co-transplanted with embryonic nigral grafts in the 6-OHDA lesioned rat striatum. Amphetamine-induced turning was alleviated by nigral grafts, but was not further improved by co-grafts, whether or not transfected to secrete kFGF. Histological analysis showed similar numbers of surviving transplanted cells and a similar extent of fibre growth from the nigral grafts whether implanted alone or co-grafted with the Schwann cells. These results suggest that kFGF does not have any clear in vivo effect on embryonic nigral grafts in this model.