Low Serum Levels of Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 in Gunn Rats: A Hyperbilirubinemia Animal Model of Schizophrenic Symptoms.

Abstract

Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) 2 (also referred to as basic FGF) is a multifunctional growth factor that plays a pivotal role in the pro-survival, pro-migration and prodifferentiation of neurons. Because alterations in FGF2 levels are suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, we investigated serum levels of FGF2 in the Gunn rat, a hyperbilirubinemia animal model of schizophrenic symptoms. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the serum levels of FGF2 in Gunn rats were 5.09 ± 0.236 pg/mL, while those in the normal strain Wistar rats, serum levels were 11.90 ± 2.142 pg/mL. The serum FGF2 levels in Gunn rats were significantly lower than those in Wistar rats. We also measured serum levels of Unconjugated Bilirubin (UCB) and found a significant negative correlation between UCB and FGF2 in terms of serum levels in all the rats studied. Since it is known that FGF2 regulates dopaminergic neurons and have antineuroinflammatory effects, our finding suggests that low FGF2 levels may contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, in which imbalanced dopamin-ergic signaling and neuroinflammation are supposed to play certain roles.