Description_x000D_ General description_x000D_ Fibroblast Growth Factor-Basic (FGF-Basic) is a potent mitogenic agent for a wide variety of mesoderm-derived cells including BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts, capillary and endocardial endothelial cells, myoblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, mesothelial cells, glial and astroglial cells, and adrenal cortex cells1,2. Fibroblast Growth Factor-Acidic (FGF-Acidic) and FGF-Basic share 55% homology in amino acid sequence3 and act upon the same cellular receptors but with differing specific activities, depending on the cell type4. These two mitogens may play important roles in vivo in cell proliferation and differentiation associated with embryogenesis, tissue regeneration, wound healing, CNS development, angiogenesis, and tumor progression2._x000D_ Since FGF-Basic is found in a variety of organs, acts on a wide range of cell types, and has multifunctional actions, it has acquired numerous synonyms, including heparin-binding growth factor (class II or beta), eye-derived growth factor I, cartilage-derived growth factor, and astroglial growth factor II5. Purified bovine and human FGF-basic differ by 3 amino acids in sequence3, and are biologically and immunologically cross-reactive._x000D_ Citation_x000D_ 1. Gospodarowicz, D., Localization of a fibroblast growth factor and its effect alone and with hydrocortisone on 3T3 cell growth. Nature, 249, 123-127 (1974)._x000D_ 2. Gospodarowicz, D. et al., Structural characterization and biological functions of fibroblast growth factor. Endo. Rev., 8, 95-114 (1987)._x000D_ 3. Esch, F. et al., Primary structure of bovine pituitary basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and comparison with the amino-terminal sequence of bovine brain acidic FGF. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82, 6507-6511 (1985)._x000D_ 4. Neufeld, G., and Gospodarowicz, D., Basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors interact with the same cell surface receptors. J. Biol. Chem., 261, 5631-5637 (1986)._x000D_ 5. Lobb, R.R. et al., Purification of heparin-binding growth factors. Anal. Biochem., 154, 1-14 (1986)._x000D_ 6. Abraham, J.A., Human basic fibroblast growth factor: nucleotide sequence and genomic organization. EMBO J., 5, 2523- 2528 (1986).