Platelet-derived growth factor and wound contraction in the rat

This experiment was undertaken for three purposes: (1) to determine a dose-response curve of acute steroid inhibition of wound contraction in the rat; (2) to confirm the results of our preliminary study that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) enhanced wound contraction in acutely steroid impaired rats; and (3) to examine the histology of the PDGF-treated wounds. To determine the dose-response of acute steroid inhibition of wound contraction, the rats were suppressed with daily doses of methylprednisolone and wound contraction was measured. Results demonstrated that significant glucocorticoid-induced inhibition of wound contraction begins with daily methylprednisolone doses of 2.0 mg/wound/day or 6.7 mg/kg/day. In an effort to confirm the results of our previous study of the effect of PDGF on wound contraction in acutely steroid-impaired rats and to study the histology of the PDGF-treated wounds, rats were suppressed with methylprednisolone or hydrocortisone and administered daily topical doses of rPDGF-BB. Wound contraction measurements revealed no improvement in the amount or rate of wound contraction. Histologically, the wounds were all very similar in the patterns of cellularity, granulation tissue maturity, collagen content, and epithelial migration. We have clarified the dose response of acute steroid inhibition of wound contraction in rats, data previously unavailable, and have concluded that PDGF in reasonable doses does not improve wound contraction in steroid-impaired rats nor does it alter the histology of the wounds.