Effects of hepatocyte growth factor on wound healing of rabbit maxillary sinus mucosa

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on healing of the sinonasal mucosa.

A 6 mm wound was created in the bilateral maxillary sinuses of 16 New Zealand White rabbits, and 8 mm diameter absorbable gelatin sponge with 25 μL HGF (case) and 25 μL saline (control) were randomly assigned to each side for wound treatment. On the third and seventh days after the procedure, the average decreased diameter was recorded. On the seventh day, the medial wall of the maxillary sinus was taken for histologic analysis (including scanning electron microscopy of two rabbits). The maximal thickness of fibrous tissue and no epithelium coverage of the wound were detected. In the second, third, and fourth weeks, another 3 rabbits were randomly selected for photographs under a scanning electron microscope.

On the third and seventh days after injury, the average decreased diameters were 2.05 ± 0.56 mm and 1.56 ± 0.80 mm, 3.90 ± 0.76 mm, and 3.29 ± 0.70 mm on the case and control sides, respectively. On day 7 after injury, the maximal thickness of fibrous tissue was 324.8 ± 93.1 μm and 432.8 ± 106.3 μm, and the wound without epithelium coverage was 345.7 ± 114.6 μm and 508.6 ± 157.2 μm on case and control sides, respectively, and there were significant differences (p < .05).

HGF can promote wound healing and ciliogenesis and inhibit fibrosis in the maxillary sinus mucosa, especially in the first 3 days. This finding suggests that HGF plays a potential role in reepithelialization and cilium hyperplasia.