Abstract

To investigate the effect of sustained-release growth factor biomaterials on tendon healing in rats. A total of 45 healthy adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups viz. blank group, vascular endothelial growth factor group and basic fibroblast growth factor group with 15 rats in each group. The rats in vascular endothelial growth factor group and basic fibroblast growth factor group were injected with 0.2 ml vascular endothelial growth factor (100 ng) and 0.2 ml basic fibroblast growth factor (100 ng) respectively. They were injected again on the 7^th d, 14^th d and 21st d after operation. At 2, 4 and 6 w after operation, 4 rats in each group were selected for experimental observation. The changes of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor levels in the treated experimental animals and the control rats were compared by the Hematoxylin and Eosin staining and adhesion were observed during the observation period. The expression of both vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The concentration of the control group at each time phase had no significant change compared with that before operation. Both vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor play an important role in the healing process of muscle bonds. Vascular endothelial growth factor is better than basic fibroblast growth factor in promoting micro angiogenesis and cell proliferation in the early stage and basic fibroblast growth factor may be better than vascular endothelial growth factor in promoting collagen synthesis.