Objective    To investigate the distribution and changes of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR-1) in normal heart or heart after myocardial infarction (MI)

and to explore beneficial effects of bFGF on heart after MI.     Methods    Eleven adult minipigs were randomly divided into 2 groups

control (n=5) and MI group (n=6). MI was induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. Sham-operation was carried out on the animals of control. bFGF-like-immunoreactivity (bFGF-ir) and FGFR-1-like-immunoreactivity (FGFR-1-ir) in heart tissues were detected by immuno-histochemistry and image analysts in 4 weeks after surgery.      Results    In controls

bFGF-ir and FGFR-1-ir in the atrium showed a considerable high level compared with 2 ventricles (P0.05). In the minipigs after MI

the levels of bFGF-ir and FGFR-1-ir in the left ventricle was significantly increased (P0.05)

especially in the area near to MI (P0.01). The levels of bFGF-ir and FGFR-1-ir in the vascular endothelial cells (VEC) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) adjacent to the infarcted region also significantly increased compared with those in the controls (P0.05).     Conclusion    bFGF and FGFR-1 mostly localize in the atrium in normal heart

and they significantly increase in the infarcted region after MI. The results suggest that bFGF might play an important pathophysiological role in neovascularization

collateral growth

tissue recovery and cardiac remodeling after MI.