EFFECT
OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR ON RABBIT URETHRAL HEALING
Canan Aldırmaz AĞARTAN*,o,
Tanju AYTUĞ**, Aysel GÜVEN***, Devrim DEMİR****, Filiz ÖNER****,
Meryem ÇAM***
*Department of Pediatric Surgery, Abant Izzet Baysal University,
School of Duzce Medicine, Düzce, TURKEY. ** Department of
Pediatric Surgery, Ankara University, School of Medicine,
Ankara, TURKEY. *** Department of Histology & Embryology,
Abant Izzet Baysal University, School of Duzce Medicine,
Düzce, TURKEY. ****Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology,
Hacettepe University, Faculty of Pharmacy, 06100 Sıhhiye,
Ankara, TURKEY.
oCorresponding Author
Summary
Extensive clinical and laboratory studies have demonstrated
epidermal growth factor (EGF) to play an essential role
in the regeneration and healing of epithelial surfaces,
including respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary
tracts. In this study, we evaluated the effects of supplemental
EGF on urethral healing using a rabbit preparation. Twenty
New Zealand White rabbits were separated into three groups.
In group 1 longitudinal urethrotomy and urethral repair
were performed (n=8). In group 2 urethrotomy and urethral
repair were performed as in group 1 and gelatin gel patches
(1.2 x 0.5 x 0.1 cm) were placed between the repaired urethra
and the skin (n=6). In group 3 gel patches containing 10
µg EGF were placed as in group 2 (n=6). Three weeks after
surgery all rabbits were examined under anesthesia in order
to determine macroscopic urethral fistulae, and the penis
was harvested en bloc for histological examination. There
was evidence of macroscopic fistulae formation in only one
animal in group 3. Histological evaluation revealed no statistically
significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). Despite
literature suggesting beneficial effects of EGF on wound
healing, we found no beneficial effects of EGF on urethral
healing.
Key Words :
Urethral healing, epidermal growth factor, wound healing,
rabbits. |
