Quantitative evaluation of myofibroblast apoptosis during wound healing in rat palate after post-operative administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)

OBJECTIVE: Excessive wound contraction apparently inhibits maxillary growth; thus, myofibroblast apoptosis needs to be accelerated in mucoperiosteal denudation after palatoplasty. The aim of this study was to evaluate myofibroblast apoptosis during wound healing in mucoperiosteal denudation of rat palates immediately after post-operative administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 male Wistar rats aged 20 days were divided into control, scar, sham and bFGF groups (n = 25 each). In the scar, sham and bFGF groups, mucoperiosteum was removed from the palate and fibrin glue was applied to the exposed bone surface immediately after surgery. In the bFGF group, 10 μL of 2 μg/μL bFGF solution was injected into the operated area beneath the fibrin glue. At 2, 5, 7, 14 and 28 days post-operatively, myofibroblast apoptosis during the wound healing process was investigated by double immunofluorescence staining. The apoptotic area of myofibroblasts was measured using image software. RESULTS: In the bFGF group, at 2 days, apoptosis of myofibroblasts in the lamina propria and submucosa was marked, as compared with the other three groups and apoptosis of myofibroblasts was scarcely seen at 5 days. At 5 and 7 days, the apoptotic area of myofibroblasts in the bFGF group was statistically significantly smaller when compared to the scar and sham groups. CONCLUSION: The results confirmed that bFGF injection immediately after surgery accelerated apoptosis of myofibroblasts in mucoperiosteal denudation of rats. This may reduce maxillary growth retardation due to excessive wound contraction.