Acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), the two best characterized members of a growing family of heparin-binding growth factors, have been shown to affect both survival of cultured neurons and regeneration of nerve terminals when applied exogenously. The endogenous expression of these growth factors in response to brain injury is not well understood. We have utilized the Swiss-Webster mouse, treated with the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay to examine changes in endogenous synthesis of mRNA for both aFGF and bFGF in the striatum and substantia nigra. We have found that MPTP treatment results in a loss of 95% of dopaminergic function and is accompanied by an increase in expression of both aFGF and bFGF in the striatum at 1 week post-lesion. After 5 weeks, the terminals appear to be regenerating and FGF mRNA expression has returned to control levels. These results suggest that cellular reaction to chemical lesion in the brain may involve changes in growth factor expression, including both aFGF and bFGF.