The relationship between the expression of bFGF

FGFR-1 and renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis wasinvestigated by using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques in thirty rat renaltubulointerstitial fibrosis models. The results showed that injured tubular cells excessively synthesized bFGF

FGFR- 1 and collagen IH; in addition

interstitial celIs widely expressed bFGF and FGFR- 1

their degree ofexpression accorded with PCNA expression in these cells and with collagen III deposition in thetubulointerstitium.It suggested that injury to tubular cells enhenced the secretion of bFGF and FGFR- 1.bFGFprobably promoted the regeneration of injured tubular celIs

the proliferation of interstitial cells and the synthzsisof collagen III through autocrine and/or paracrine mechanism

and thus accelerated the fibrosis of the renalinterstitium.