title: Slow release of basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) promotes growth of tracheal cartilage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tracheomalacia is a major cause of morbidity in conditions such as oesophageal atresia. However, symptoms usually improve with age. A more rapid growth of tracheal cartilage can be induced by basic-Fibroblast Growth Factor (b-FGF). This study aimed to investigate whether slow-release b-FGF could act as a novel treatment for tracheomalacia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biodegradable gelatin hydrogel sheets incorporating 0.5, 5, or 50 μg/20 μl of b-FGF solution were inserted between the cervical trachea and esophagus of rats. No intervention was performed in rats in a control group. All animals were sacrificed 4 weeks later, and the luminal area of the cervical trachea and the thickness of the cartilage were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean luminal areas in the control group and in the b-FGF groups were 3.1, 3.2, 3.8, and 2.6mm(2), respectively, and showed a peak area at 5 μg of b-FGF. A significant difference was seen only between the control group and the b-FGF 5 μg group (p<0.05). The mean thickness of the tracheal cartilage was 0.12, 0.13, 0.19, and 0.32 mm in the control and the b-FGF groups, respectively, and showed a dose-dependent increase, which was statistically significant between the b-FGF 5 μg or 50 μg groups and the control group (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that slow-release b-FGF enlarges the tracheal lumen and thickens the cartilage in a dose-dependent fashion.
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. i-tetsuya@umin.ac.jp
authors: Tetsuya
authors: T
authors: Ishimaru
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Komura
authors: Hiroko
authors: H
authors: Komura
authors: Yushi
authors: Y
authors: Otani
authors: Hiroaki
authors: H
authors: Komuro
authors: Masahiko
authors: M
authors: Sugiyma
authors: Kan
authors: K
authors: Terawaki
authors: Kan
authors: K
authors: Suzuki
authors: Yasuhiko
authors: Y
authors: Tabata
authors: Tadashi
authors: T
authors: Iwanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2