Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Development of a Rabbit Chronic-Like Rotator Cuff Injury Model for Study of Fibrosis and Muscular Fatty Degeneration
Published on: March 31, 2023
A long term study on the role of exogenous human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor on the superficial
1Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. oryan@shirazu.ac.ir
Background:
This study was designed to investigate the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on the remodeling phase of the tenotomized superficial digital flexor tendon in rabbits.
Methods:
Forty white New Zealand mature male rabbits were divided randomly into two equal groups of treated and control. After tenotomy and surgical repair, using modified Kessler technique and running pattern, the injured legs were casted for 14 days. Human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was injected subcutaneously over the lesion on days 3, 7 and 10 post injuries. The control animals received normal saline injection similarly. The weight of the animals, tendon diameter, radiographic and ultrasonographic evaluations was conducted at weekly intervals. The animals were euthanized 84 days post-injury and the tendons were evaluated at macroscopic, histopathologic and ultrastructural level and were also assessed for biomechanical and percentage dry weight parameters.
Results:
Treatment significantly reduced the diameter and increased the echogenicity and dry weight content of the injured tendons. Treatment also significantly enhanced the maturation of the tenoblasts, fibrillogenesis, the collagen fibrils' diameter, fibrillar density, stiffness, and ultimate and yield strength.
Conclusions:
Subcutaneous administration of human recombinant bFGF is effective in restoring the morphological and biomechanical properties of the injured SDFT in rabbits.
