title: Tracheal cartilage growth by intratracheal injection of basic fibroblast growth factor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have previously shown that intratracheal injection of slowly released (in gelatin) basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) significantly enlarged the tracheal lumen by a slight margin. This study aimed to investigate differences in tracheal cartilage growth by the intratracheal injection of bFGF doses in a rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Water (group 1; n=7; control) or 100μg (group 2; n=8) or 200μg (group 3; n=8) of bFGF dissolved in water was injected into the posterior wall of the cervical trachea of New Zealand white rabbits using a tracheoscope. All animals were sacrificed four weeks later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean circumferences of cervical tracheas for groups 1, 2, and 3 were 18.8±0.83, 21.1±2.0, and 22.1±1.3mm, respectively. A significant difference was found between groups 1 and 2 (P=0.034) and groups 1 and 3 (P=0.004). The mean luminal areas of cervical tracheas for groups 1, 2, and 3 were 27.0±2.1, 32.2±4.8, and 36.3±4.6mm2, respectively. A significant difference was found between groups 1 and 3 (P=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intratracheal injection of bFGF in the dose range used significantly promoted the growth of tracheal cartilage in a rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level II at treatment study (animal experiment).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Saitama Medical University, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama-cho, Iruma-gun, Saitama, Japan; Division of Tissue Engineering, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: komura-tky@umin.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komura
authors.affiliation: Division of Tissue Engineering, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: hirokomu-tky@umin.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Komura
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Saitama Medical University, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama-cho, Iruma-gun, Saitama, Japan. Electronic address: hkomuro-tky@umin.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Komuro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Saitama Medical University, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama-cho, Iruma-gun, Saitama, Japan. Electronic address: ikeken@ikebukuro.or.jp.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikebukuro
authors.affiliation: Division of Tissue Engineering, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: ahikita-tky@umin.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Atsuhiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hikita
authors.affiliation: Division of Tissue Engineering, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: pochi-tky@umin.net.
authors.forename: Kazuto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoshi
authors.affiliation: Division of Tissue Engineering, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: takato-ora@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007267:Injections; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; C114444:trafermin; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors
keywords: Trachea growth enhancement; Tracheal cartilage; Tracheomalacia; bFGF