PDGF Supplementation Alters Oxidative Events in Wound Healing Process: A Time Course Study

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), an important stimulant, plays a role in almost all stages of wound healing process. In various studies, it has been shown that PDGF has healing effects in this process. In the present study, we especially focused on investigating the effects of exogenous PDGF administration on oxidative events during cutaneous wound healing process. Experiments were performed on 42 female Wistar-albino rats. Animals were divided into four groups: control, untreated, chitosan-treated and chitosan + PDGF-treated. Two uniform full-thickness excisional skin wounds were made under anesthesia in all animals except control group. In the chitosan + PDGF-treated groups, the wounds were treated topically with a single daily dose PDGF-BB (7 ng/ml) after wounding. In the chitosan-treated groups, the wounds were treated topically with equal amount of blank chitosan gel. After that, on the 3th and 7th days of wound healing, the animals were killed. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), nitric oxide (NOx), ascorbic acid (AA), glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured spectrophotometrically in the wound tissues. PDGF significantly increased TBARS levels in early phase of wound healing. In contrast, it significantly decreased TBARS levels in later phase of healing. In the chitosan + PDGF-treated group, NOx levels decreased on days 3 and 7 when compared with the chitosan-treated groups. Non-enzymatic antioxidant levels were increased by PDGF administration and this may have contributed to increase in wound tissue antioxidant capacity. In the light of these findings, PDGF supplementation may have altering effects on oxidative events depending on the time in wound healing process.