Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
Preclinical Model of Hind Limb Ischemia in Diabetic Rabbits
Published on: June 2, 2019
Effect of vascular endothelial growth factor on laryngeal wound healing in rabbits
James W Schroeder1, Jeffrey C Rastatter, David L Walner
1Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. jschroeder@childrensmemorial.org
Objective:
Study the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on laryngeal wound healing in a rabbit model.
Study Design:
Prospective, randomized, blinded.
Methods:
The anterior cricoid cartilage of 10 rabbits was split and a VEGF-soaked collagen sponge was sewn between the cut edges. In 10 control animals, the collagen sponge was soaked with phosphate-buffered saline solution. The larynx was harvested on day 10. The degree of epithelial closure, the degree of soft tissue closure, and the presence of inflammatory cells was graded.
Results:
There was complete epithelial closure in the control group. There was a slightly higher, but not statistically significant, grade of soft tissue closure in the experimental group. The experimental group had a lower but not statistically significant acute inflammatory response score.
Conclusions:
The topical application of VEGF through an implanted collagen sponge to an anterior, subglottic incision in a rabbit has no significant effect on tracheal luminal epithelial closure, acute inflammatory response, or soft tissue repair at postsurgical day 10.
