[The relation between expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and mast cells in pterygium]

To examine the expression and distribution of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and mast cells in pterygium, and evaluate its effects in the pterygium formation and progression.

The expression of bFGF and mast cell tryptase in 17 primary pterygia, 6 recurrent pterygia and 6 normal conjunctival specimens were studied. The mast cell count and bFGF expression situation were observed.

The bFGF was specifically localized in the epithelium, blood vessels and a subset of connective tissue cells. The bFGF expression was increased in the recurrent pterygium. The numbers of infiltrating mast cells (five 400 x sights) were (45.47 +/- 5.50) cells and (48.83 +/- 3.19) cells in the primary and recurrent pterygium respectively. In the comparisons between the cells in the pterygium (primary and recurrent) and (4.24 +/- 2.36) cells in the normal connective tissue, there were significant differences (F = 200.3128; q = 26.6762, 23.7341; P < 0.05). The shape and distribution of all the tryptase-positive cells (mast cells) in the pterygium tissues were similar to that of the cells with bFGF expression in the connective tissue. And the majority of bFGF-positive cells (87.54 +/- 3.60)% were similar to that of mast cells in the connective tissue.

All infiltrating mast cells in pterygium have bFGF-positive expression. The bFGF expression is increased in the epithelium, blood vessels and infiltrating mast cells of the pterygium, and may contribute to the formation and progression of a pterygium.