Abstract: Objective To explore the regulative effect and mechanism of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to β-catenin in cardiac fibroblasts. Methods 3days SD rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were isolated and cultured in normal condition and then in hypoxia/reoxygenation (Hy/R) condition. We use the third generation cardiac fibroblasts and divided into 6 groups, including the control group, the Hy/R control group, the 5, 10, 20 and 40μg/L bFGF group. The MTT method was used to investigate the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts, The expression of β-catenin and apoptosis cell were detected and measured by laser confocal scanning microscope method and TUNEL method. Results MTT A 490 nm value in Hy/R groups was significant decreased compare with control group (P<0.05), with β-catenin protein decreased (P<0.05) and apoptosis increased (P<0.05). Compare with Hy/R groups the MTT A 490 nm value of the bFGF groups were significantly increased (P<0.05), the expression of β-catenin in bFGF group was increased significantly (P < 0.05), and the cell apoptosis was decreased in bFGF group (P<0.05). Conclusion The results indicate that bFGF can up regulates the expression of β-catenin in the cardiac fibroblast, facilitates cell proliferation and depresses cell apoptosis after Hy/R.

Key words: hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R), basic fibroblast growth factor, β-catenin, apoptosis