Tissue VEGF under palatal base with/without surgical wound

A number of studies point to Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as one of the crucial mediators of complications in diabetes mellitus (DM).  The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mechanical compression on the level of VEGF in the palatal mucosa with/without surgical wound in rat using an experimental palatal base.

Method:

Eighty Wistar rats, both gender, weighing 220-250g, were divided into 2 groups: controls (40) and diabetic (40), with experimentally induced DM by  alloxan, 150mg/kg. Each group was further divided into 4 groups with 10 animals: palatal mucosa with/without wound; palatal base with/without wound. VEGF (pg/ml) in palatal mucosa was measured before experiment and on 3^rd day after palatal insertion and surgical incision using Enzime -linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Result:

VEGF concentrations in intact palatal mucosa without palatal base and surgical wound were similar in control and diabetic animals. In the presence of palatal base with/without surgical wound VEGF concentrations were increased being more prominent in control than in diabetic animals. The most prominent increase in VEGF concentrations were observed in the presence of palatal base with surgical wound.

Conclusion:

In conditions of mechanical compression and early stage of wound healing process VEGF concentration in palatal mucosa increases. This increase was smaller in diabetic animals than in controls, most probably because of impaired VEGF expression in DM.