Background: The effect of the b-fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) on cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced nephrotoxicity in the rat kidney was investigated.
Materials and methods: The rats were divided into six groups: A (control), B (b-FGF-treated), C, D: (CsA-treated and sacrificed on days 14 or 21), E, F (Cs A- and b-FGF- treated and sacrificed on days 14 or 21). The antibody mouse anti-rat CD31 was used to evaluate the kidney vessels present in histological preparations.
Results: The kidney vessels in group B were increased in comparison with the control group (p<0.05). Reduction of kidney vessels in groups C and D (p<0.05) in comparison with the controls was observed, while in groups E and F they were increased when compared to group C (p<0.05) and D (p<0.05), respectively.
Conclusion: The angiogenic role of b-FGF was confirmed in normal rats and a possible "protective" role of b-FGF was shown in rat kidney with CsA-induced nephrotoxicity.