Immunohistochemical Study on Wound Healing of a Muscle Flap Transferred into the Oral Cavity of Rats.

Abstract

The immunohistochemical expressions of FGF2, FGFR1, FGFR2, and their possible participation in the apoptosis of myofibroblast were studied in the healing process of a muscle flap transferred into the oral cavity of rats. At 14 days postoperatively, abundant myofibroblasts were observed in the early-granulating muscle flap, and at 18 days postoperatively, they began to gradually disappear. The FGF2 immunopositive area, the number of FGFR2-positive fibroblasts and TUNEL-positive fibroblasts reached a maximum at 18 days postoperatively and gradually decreased thereafter, and there was a significant correlation of expression between the FGFR2positive fibroblast and TUNEL-positive fibroblast. On the other hand, FGFR1-positive fibroblasts were observed from day 10 to 21 in the granulation tissue formation of the muscle flap. These findings suggest that FGFR1 may participate as a factor affecting tissue remodeling of muscle flap healing, and that FGFR2 may play a role in programmed cell death or apoptosis of myofibroblast.