Improved refractory wound healing with administration of acidic fibroblast growth factor in diabetic rats

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect and mechanism of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) on treating refractory wound of diabetic rats. SD rats were randomly divided into control group, diabetes group, and aFGF group. Ulcer skin tissues of three groups of rats were respectively collected on days 7 and 14 after establishment of ulcer model for biochemical test, pathological section and immunohistochemistry to comprehensively evaluate the treatment effect of aFGF on diabetic ulcer. The results showed that aFGF could significantly increase capillaries and fibroblast amounts of ulcer tissues, enhance the expression of TGF-β and PCNA proliferation proteins, and thus improved diabetic ulcer tissues. The preliminary mechanism that aFGF helps to promote healing of diabetic ulcer is possibly associated with that aFGF stimulated ulcer skins to secrete TGF-β and PCNA proteins and promoted proliferation of capillaries and fibroblasts.