Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor during the early stage of maxillofacial blast injury

To determine the expression and the change of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its acceptor KDR during the early stage of maxillofacial blast injury. To evaluate the effect of VEGF on traumatic wound healing.

The rabbit model of maxillofacial blast injury was made by KTY-04 blasting cap. The expression of VEGF and KDR in wound tissue was determined by ABC immunohistochemistry of 6 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days after injury. The results were compared with preinjury groups.

In the wound tissue of the maxillofacial blast injury, the expression of VEGF rose steadily during the first week after the injury. Compared with normal tissue, the wound tissue showed differences by the first day after injury, and showed significant differences by the third day (P < 0.01). The differences reached a peak at the seventh day after injury. The expression of KDR showed no difference within 3 days after injury when compared to normal tissue. Between 5 and 7 days after injury, the protein was more strongly expressed.

The stage of the VEGF expression at the maxillofacial blast injury site is similar to the angiopoietic stage during would healing, and KDR expression also occurs during that period. VEGF takes part in angiogenic cascades of traumatic wound healing and is produced as an auxiliary action to the regeneration of blood vessels.