title: [Effect of recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (rh-bFGF) on wound healing of the corneal epithelium].
abstract: Prior to a possible clinical trial in humans, we studied the wound-healing effect of RH-bFGF in vivo. Healing-rate measurements on 24 deepithelialized rabbit corneas were performed by means of computer-assisted image analysis. A significantly increased healing rate (P = 0.004) was revealed for the 200 ng FGF treated group (rate 1.57 mm2/h) compared to the control group (1.12 mm2/h). To assess the long-term (side) effects of FGF (50 ng topically applied, 2 times daily), 7 rabbits were involved in a model with repeated epithelial scraping of an anterior keratectomy wound (performed with Draeger's rotokeratom to a depth of 0.15 mm). Light and transmission electron micrographs of treated corneas showed an increased fibrogenesis in the anterior stroma with more pronounced activation of keratocytes. No evidence of abnormal neovascularization or inflammation was observed when compared to control corneas. We suggest that topical RH-bFGF promotes corneal wound healing with virtually no detectable adverse reactions. These results seem to be of considerable interest for the possible therapeutic use of rh-bFGF in patients with superficial corneal epithelial lesions.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherches Gérontologiques, Paris.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rieck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Assouline
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pouliquen
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Courtois
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
vernacular_title: Effekt von rekombinatem humanem basischem Fibroblastenwachstumsfaktor (rh-bFGF) auf die Wundheilung des Hornhautepithels.