The importance of vascular endothelial growth factor in the healing of acute tympanic membrane perforation.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the more important growth factor expression between basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the healing of acute tympanic membrane (TM) perforation.


METHODS
Bilateral perforations of the TM were created in 12 rats. The TM perforations in the right ears were treated with dexamethasone, and left ears were designated as the control group. The TM was examined for the growth factor expression immunohistochemically in the epithelial and fibrous layers according to the rate of TM perforation healing.


RESULTS
The mean spontaneous healing time of the TM perforations was 11.0 +/- 2.0 days. However, dexamethasone-treated group showed no evidence of closure. The bFGF and VEGF expression were significantly correlated with the rate of healing of acute TM perforations. The VEGF expression was decreased both in the epithelial and fibrous layers, but bFGF expression was decreased only in the epithelial layer in the dexamethasone-treated group. The VEGF was expressed to a lesser degree than bFGF in the dexamethasone-treated group.


CONCLUSIONS
Vascular endothelial growth factor is the more specific and important growth factor than bFGF in the healing of acute TM perforation.
Cho
Kyu-Sup
KS
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
Lee
Dong-Gun
DG
Shin
Dong-Hoon
DH
Park
Young-Dae
YD
Chon
Kyong-Myong
KM
D000818:Animals; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014945:Wound Healing
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D003907:Dexamethasone