The effect of topical EGF administration on dorsolateral excisional wound?s oxidant status

Wound is the impairment of soft tissues? anatomic structure and function. Wound healing is the process of the biochemical events that start with trauma and eventuate with new tissue formation. Various growth factors, like Epidemal growth factor (EGF), play an important role in wound healing. Many researches reported EGF?s wound healing accelerating effect. However, little is known about the interaction between the growth factors and oxidant-antioxidant events in experimental cutaneous wound healing models. Therefore we planned this study to evaluate the connection between EGF therapy and TBARS, GSH, NOx, AA levels and SOD activity in skin tissue. All of these parameters of wound tissue were determined after excisional surgery followed by topical EGF administration on days 1, 5, 7 and 14.In our study, 54 male Wistar-Albino rats (weight: 200-250g) were used. Dorsolateral excisional wounds were made on the rats and they were randomly divided into 2 groups: 1- Untreated group, 2- Topical EGF administered group. EGF solution was prepared in thilotears (10 ng/ml) and administered as topical single dose on post-operation days. Animals were sacrificed on 1, 5, 7 and 14th days by exsanguination under anesthesia. Wound tissues were removed immediately avoiding contamination and stored at ?30 0C. The parameters of the wound tissue were measured spectrophotometrically. Statistical analysis were performed using Anova Variance Analysis (TBARS, GSH, NOx and AA levels) and Kruskal Wallis test (SOD activity). All data were expressed as mean ± SD. Statistical significance was considered as P < 0.05.Our results showed that, TBARS levels were decreased and NOx levels were increased on the 5th day after operation, and GSH levels were increased on the 14th day in EGF administered group, compared to untreated group. As a concluion, our data showed that EGF may act like an antioxidant and show its beneficial effects by scavenging already formed toxic oxidation products in wound tissue. Also, it may contribute healing of the wound tissue in earlier stages and suggest a potential effective role for antioxidant therapies.