Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that recombinant human epidermal growth factors can obviously accelerate wound closure on burning wound, and endogenous epidermal growth factor induces biological effects in combination with epidermal growth factor receptor.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of local recombinant human epidermal growth factors on the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in the healing of scald wound in rats.
METHODS: Wistar rats were prepared for back deep Ⅱ degree scald models and divided into two groups. Rats in the control group were sprayed physiological saline and those in the experimental group were sprayed recombinant human epidermal growth factors. The healing rate of the wound was observed and expression of epidermal growth factor receptor protein was determined by Western-blot at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21 days after operation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The wound healing rates of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group from 7 to 21 days (P < 0.05). The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in the two groups were reduced at 1 day, and raised to the peak level at 7 days, which was higher in the control group than the experimental group (P < 0.05). After the peak level, the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in the control group was reduced slowly to the normal level. While, the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in the experimental group was reduced rapidly to a minimum at 14 days; after that, it was raised slowly and closed to the normal level. The two groups showed significant differences (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that local application of recombinant human epidermal growth factors at the early phase of wound healing can produce an influence on the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor and obviously accelerate wound closure in deep Ⅱ scald wound rats.