Comparison of the effects of rhEGF with rhbFGF on the acceleration of wound healing

Objective To investigate the mechanism and the accelerating effect of rhEGF and rhbFGF on wound healing . Methods Twelve New Zealand rabbits with 72 incised wounds on ventral side of 24 ears were randomly divided into two therapeutic groups(rhEGF of 10ug/cm2 and rhbFGF of 100AU/cm2) and a control group(1% silver sulfadiazine cream, SD-Ag). The general conditions of the wound healing was observed grossly. Biopsies were harvested at different time points for the pathomrphological examination, the electron microscopic examination, and for assessment of integrin β1 mRNA expression by in situ hybridization. Results The expressions of integrin β1 mRNA in two therapeutic groups were significantly higher than that of control group. The quality of the wound healing was improved in therapeutic group with its healing time shortened when compared with that in control group(P0.05). There was an obvious difference in the number of fibroblasts and capillary gemmules between the therapeutic and control groups (P0.05). Conclusion The wound healing and quality could be improved by both rhEGF and rhbFGF, but rhbFGF seemed better to be employed during the early and middle stages of the wound repair for the growth of granulation tissue, while rhEGF should be applied at the late stage of wound repair to accelerate the re-epithelialization of the wound. Combined application of rhEGF with rhbFGF according to time effect could be more beneficial to the wound repair. [