Stimulation of wound healing by epidermal growth factor. A dose-dependent effect

This work was undertaken to study the effects of various doses of locally applied epidermal growth factor (EGF) on developing granulation tissue in rats. Cylindrical hollow sponge implants were used as an inductive matrix for the growth of granulation tissue. In the test groups, the implants were injected daily with a solution containing 0.2, 1, or 5 micrograms of EGF in 0.1% albumin while the implants of the control group were treated correspondingly with the carrier solution only. Analyses of granulation tissue in the sponge cylinders were carried out 7 days after implantation. A stimulatory, dose-dependent effect of EGF on granulation tissue formation was observed: cellularity increased, as evidenced by the elevated amounts of nucleic acids, and accumulation of collagen and glycosaminoglycans was enhanced.