Fibroblast growth factor-2 enhances functional recovery of reinnervated muscle

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Muscle Nerve. 2006 Nov;34(5):623-30.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 enhances functional recovery of

reinnervated muscle.

Iwata Y, Ozaki N, Hirata H, Sugiura Y, Horii E, Nakao E, Tatebe M,

Yazaki N, Hattori T, Majima M, Ishiguro N.

Department of Hand Surgery, Division of Musculoskeletal and

Cutaneous Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine,

65 Tsurumaicho, Showaku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.

Long-term denervation of muscles results in fibrosis and fat

replacement, which prevent muscles from regaining contractile

function despite reinnervation. Therefore, prevention of muscle

atrophy between nerve repair and muscle reinnervation may improve

the functional outcome. A variety of growth factors play significant

roles in muscle mass modulation and muscle regeneration.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of

fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) and nerve growth factor (NGF) on

muscle mass modulation after denervation and reinnervation using a

nerve-to-muscle neurotization model.

Growth factors were injected into the anterior tibial muscle after

direct neurotization of muscles every 7 days up to 4 weeks after

surgery. FGF2 significantly increased the amplitude of compound

muscle action potentials (CMAPs), wet muscle weight, and the number

of motor endplates, especially at higher concentration, compared to

the vehicle.

In contrast, NGF did not increase either the amplitude of CMAPs or

muscle weight, although it significantly increased the number of

motor endplates. These findings indicate that both growth factors

enhance reinnervation of muscles; however, only FGF2 is involved in

muscle mass modulation.