Objective: To investigate the molecular biological mechanism of endothelial cell proliferation induced by bFGF.
Methods: Cultured rat myocardial microvascular endothelial cells were stimulated with bFGF of various concentrations. By northern blot analysis, the levels of c-myc mRNA expression were detected.
Results: The expression of c-myc mRNA in the bFGF-treated groups increased (P < 0.05) with a dose- and stimulating time-dependent manner. The c-myc mRNA expression reached to a peak level at 2 hours.
Conclusions: C-myc expression may be an important component in controlling the transit of cells through the cell cycle.