The effect of in vitro fibroblast growth factors on cell proliferation in pancreas from normal and streptozotocin-treated rats.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are potent mitogens for a wide variety of cells. In the present study we examined the potential morphogenic activities of the growth factors FGF1, FGF2 and FGF7, and cellular processes underlying morphogenesis, in pancreatic cells from streptozotocin diabetic newborn rats. The pancreases from control and diabetic newborn rats were microdissected and cultured in the presence of different doses of FGF1, 2 and 7 for 48 h.