AIM: To detect the effects of acid fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) on apoptosis and proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells in differentiation or proliferation status to explore the protective mechanisms of aFGF.METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated control group (C, n = 6), intestinal ischemia group (I,n = 6), aFGF treatment group (A,n =48) and intestinal ischemia-reperfusion group (R, n = 48). Apoptosis of intestinal mucosal cells was determined with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL)technique. Proliferating cell nuclear. antigen (PCNA)protein expression and distribution were detected with immunohistochemical method. Plasma levels of D-lactate were determined with modified Brandts method.RESULTS: In A group, administration of exogenous aFGF could improve intestinal histological structure and decrease plasma D-lactate levels at 2-12 h after the reperfusion compared with R group. The apoptotic rates and PCNA protein expressions were not increased until 2 h after reperfusion and were maximal at 12 h. After reperfusion for 2-12 h, the apoptotic rates were gradually augmented along the length of jejunal crypt-villus units.Administration of aFGF could significantly reduce the apoptotic response at 2-12 h after reperfusion (P＜0.05).Apoptosis rates in villus and crypt epithelial cells in A group at 12 h after reperfusion were (62.5±5.5)% and (73.2±18.6)% of those in R group, respectively.Treatment of aFGF could apparently induce protein expression of PCNA in intestinal mucosal cells of A group compared with R group during 2-12 h after reperfusion (P＜0.05). There were approximately 1.3- and 1.5-times increments of PCNA expression levels in villus and crypt cells in A group at 12 h after reperfusion compared with R group, respectively.CONCLUSION: Intestinal I/R insult could lead to histological structure change and apoptotic rate increment. The protective effects of aFGF against ischemia/reperfusion in rat intestinal mucosa might be partially due to its ability to inhibit ischemia/reperfusioninduced apoptosis and to promote cell proliferation of crypt cells and villus epithelial cells.
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