Central nervous system action of basic fibroblast growth factor: inhibition of gastric acid and pepsin secretion.

To examine the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on gastric secretion, the present study was carried out using pylorus-ligated rats. Intracisternally injected bFGF inhibited the secretion of both gastric acid and pepsin, and this gastric antisecretory action of bFGF was a dose-related response. On the other hand, the intraperitoneal injection of bFGF did not change gastric secretion. These results strongly suggested for the first time that bFGF, a growth factor that promotes the proliferation of various cell types, might also be a chemical messenger that is involved in the central regulation of gastric secretion. This biological action of bFGF may be considered as a novel nonmitogenic activity of this growth factor.