The Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor on the Wound Healing after Gastrotomy

Yasushi Ichikawa

The Second Department of Surgery, Yokohama City University School of Medicine

The role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in wound healing of the stomach was studied in Wistar rats. The animals were divided into 4 groups. 1) control, 2) EGF group: Administration of EGF (20 µg/kg) 1 hour before and 24 and 48 hours after the operation, 3) SMR group: Bilateral total removal of submandibular glands 14 days before the operation, 4) SMR+EGF group. An incision was made in stomach wall and sutured primarily with cat gut. The following examinations were performed 3 and 7 days after the operation in each group: 1) measurement of bursting pressure, 2) histopathological examination of local collagen production, 3) measurement of microcirculation (Laser Doppler method), 4) observation of vascular structure (carmine gelatin cast), 5) quantitative measurement of neovascularization (carmine dye method). No statistically significant differences were noted in any parameters between the control and the EGF group. In the SMR group, all 4 parameters were markedly decreased compared with the control. Administration of EGF to the SMR group (SMR+EGF) improved all parameters, making them almost the same as those of the control. EGF is an essential factor for gastric wounds of rats to heal normally at least during the initial stage of the healing process. Normally it gives rise to neovascularization and maintains competent microcirculation at the wound.

Key words
epidermal growth factor, wound healing of stomach, vascular structure of the gastrotomy wound, neovascularization in the gastrotomy wound, microcirculation in the gastrotomy wound

Reprint requests
Yasushi Ichikawa The Second Department of Surgery, Yokohama City University School of Medicine
3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236 JAPAN

Accepted
September 9, 1992

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