Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor-2 and hyaluronic acid on tracheal wound healing.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate basic fibroblast growth factor-2 (BFGF) and hyaluronic acid (HA) effects on a surgically produced tracheal defect.


METHODS
Animal model.


METHODS
Anterior punch lesions were created on 33 male rabbits divided into three equal groups. Group 1 (Control) received a normal saline (NS)-soaked collagen sponge directly on the defect, group 2 (HA alone) a NS-soaked HA sponge, and group 3 (BFGF+HA) a 10 ng/mL BFGF-soaked HA sponge. Sponge fixation and surgical closure were followed by a 90-day healing period, then animal sacrifice. Harvested tracheas were fixed, imbedded, sectioned, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin or safranin-O. Histopathological measures included: chondrocyte death, chondrocyte proliferation (both reported as number of rabbits displaying death or proliferation per group/total rabbits per group [%]), connective tissue (CT) organization (graded on a scale), epithelial closure (1-3 scale), and inflammation (1-4 scale). The final three measures are reported as an average grade per group, where values closer to 1 signify improved healing, whereas higher values signify poorer healing.


RESULTS
Chondrocyte death: Control, 8/11 (72.7%); HA alone, 5/11 (45.5%); BFGF+HA 5/11 (45.5%). Chondrocyte proliferation: 3/11 (27.3%), 7/11 (63.6%), and 9/11 (81.8%), respectively. CT organization: 2.00, 1.82, 1.64. Epithelial closure: 1.18, 1.09, and 1.00. Inflammation: 2.82, 1.82, and 1.73. Statistical comparisons: significantly improved chondrocyte proliferation for BFGF+HA (P = .015) and reduced inflammation for HA alone (P = .011) and BFGF+HA (P = .004) compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
BFGF+HA applied to an anterior tracheal defect significantly improves chondrocyte proliferation; HA alone and BFGF+HA significantly reduce inflammation. BFGF+HA and HA alone may improve tracheal wound healing.
Parker
Noah P
NP
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Bailey
Samual S
SS
Walner
David L
DL
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid