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.