The Effect of Fibroblast Growth Factors in Grafted Fascia into the Vocal Fold of Rabbits

Abstract Introduction The human larynx is a very important organ for communication. Many conditions lead to scarring of the vocal folds, decreasing voice quality. Objective We aimed to determine whether fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) may influence tissue integration of grafted fascia into the vocal folds of an animal model. Methods This is an experimental animal study with 12 adult rabbits that were submitted to a grafting fragment obtained from superficial cervical fascia into the vocal fold lamina propria, bilaterally. The right vocal fold was injected with FGFs. The animals were sacrificed after 1 month or 12 months, depending on the group they were assigned to, and a histological analysis of their vocal folds was performed.We analyzed the histological changes (such as the presence of fibrosis and neovascularization) induced by the acute or chronic inflammatory reactions. Results The FGFs induced acute inflammatory changes in all animals after 1 month of the initial experiment. The presence of FGFs triggered more fibrosis than the expected due to the surgical procedure itself when compared with the control side of all animals after 12 months of the initial experiment. Conclusions Fibroblast growth factors alone do not represent a good therapeutic option in phonosurgery, since we observed higher levels of fibrosis in the vocal fold lamina propria. Further studies combining more substances may be necessary to elucidate the best option to be used in this kind of surgery. (AU)

Método para o estudo in vivo da angiogênese: indução de neovascularização na córnea de coelho / Method for in vivo study of angiogenesis: induction of neovascularization in the rabbit cornea

A angiogênese é um processo de múltiplos degraus que conduz a formação de novos vasos sangüíneos a partir de capilares preexistentes e que participa em diversos processos fisiológicos e patológicos incluindo o crescimento tumoral e de metástases. Vários métodos têm sido desenvolvidos para estudar a angiogênese. A técnica de indução de vascularização na córnea do coelho foi uma das primeiras a serem desenvolvidas pelo grupo de Gimbrone e colaboradores. O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever a técnica de indução de angiogênese na córnea do coelho, através do implante cirúrgico de "pellets" de polimetilmetacrilato (PMMA) contendo fator básico de crescimento fibroblástico (FCFb). Um "pellet" contendo 0.1 mig de FCFb foi implantado em uma das córneas e outro, sem FCFb, na córnea contralateral, como controle. A atividade angiogênica foi expressa por um índice, resultado da contagem do número de vasos e da medição de seu comprimento em milímetros. Os resultados mostraram que o FCFb induz crescimento vascular significativo a partir do sexto dia após o implante do "pellet" com atividade máxima no 15º dia. O PMMA sem FCFb não estimulou significativamente a vascularização. Esta técnica fornece uma nova opção de modelo para o estudo da biologia da angiogênese e para avaliação de drogas antiangiogênicas, usando "pellets" de polimetilmetacrilato (PMMA).

Basic fibroblast growth factor does not initiate mitogenic signalling via phosphoinositide hydrolysis in PC12 cells.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (b FGF) was found to be equally potent mitogen as compared to alpha-thrombin to reinitiate DNA synthesis in quiescent PC12 cells. Whereas thrombin was found to be an activator of phospholipase C as judged by a rapid increase in the formation of inositol triphosphate, inositol biphosphate and a massive accumulation of inositol phosphate when 20 mM LiCl was present as an inhibitor of inositol mono phosphatases, basic FGF failed to induce the breakdown of the polyphosphoinositides in quiescent PC12 cells to any appreciable levels, however, a simultaneous increase in the level of diacylglycerol was observed. b FGF also failed to stimulate protein kinase C which is believed to be activated by diacylglycerol. It is therefore concluded that bFGF receptor mediated 'signalling is not via phospholipase C activation and bFGF's early mitogenic responses and DNA synthesis are initiated independent of the inositol lipids and protein kinase C activation. Thus bFGF must have its own unique signal transducing mechanism independent of inositol pathways.