Vascular endothelial growth factor is more important than basic fibroblastic growth factor during ischemic wound healing

Objectives: To test the influence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VE GF) on normal and ischemic wounds in a noncontractive dermal ulcer standard ized model in the rabbit ear and to assay the levels of both VEGF and basic fibroblastic growth factor messenger RNA levels in normal and ischemic wou nds at different intervals during the healing process. Design and Interventions: Dermal ulcers were created in the normal and isch emic ears of 20 anesthetized young female New Zealand white rabbits. Either VEGF 121, VEGF 165 (30 mu g per wound), or buffered saline solution alone was applied to each wound and covered. Wounds were harvested at day 7 or 10 and evaluated histologically. Twenty-four similar rabbits were wounded in the same manner and their untreated wounds were harvested at 1, 3, 7, and 1 0 da)is after wounding. The wounds were analyzed with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Main Outcome Measures: Histologic specimens were measured for amount of new epithelium and granulation tissue. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to determine basic fibroblastic growth factor and VEGF me ssenger RNA expression. Results: Both isoforms of VEGF improved granulation tissue formation in bot h normal and ischemic wounds with a magnitude similar to other vulnerary ag ents tested in the past. Vascular endothelial growth factor application had no effect on new epithelium formation. In contrast to basic fibroblastic g rowth factor, VEGF: messenger RNA levels were induced 4 fold by ischemia al one and 6 fold by wounding in both ischemic and normal wounds. Conclusion: Vascular endothelial growth factor seems to be more important t han basic fibroblastic growth factor during ischemic wound healing. Treatme nt of ischemic wounds with VEGF: improves the deficit in wound healing prod uced by ischemia.