Treatment of Full-Thickness Cutaneous Wounds Using a Novel Fish Skin Acellular Dermal Powder as Hydrogel with Gene Expression of Some Growth Factors Genes

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate how well fish skin acellular dermal powder hydrogel (FADPH)

promotes the healing of cutaneous wounds in Iraqi bucks. 48 of full-thickness cutaneous wounds (3X3 cm)

created on the dorsal back of twelve bucks, each two wounds on both sides. Then, divided into two groups

according  to  treatment  method (6  bucks  /group).  The  wounds  in  control  group  (A),  were  left  without

treatment and the wounds in treatment group (B) were treated by topical application of (FADPH). The

outcomes were assessed clinically, morphometrically scoring at (7, 14, 35, and 42) days post treatment, and

gene expression by RT-PCR of two genes including fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and epidermal growth

factor (EGF) at three times periods (0,7 and 14) days and histopathological assessment at (7,14, 35 and 42)

days post treatment. The scoring results of group B showed that the percentages of scoring results were

significantly higher than that of control wounds at the level of (P<0.001) from the first 7 days until the end of

the study. Also, results of gene expression of FGF and EGF was considerably higher in the treated group than

control  group  at  the  level  of  (p<0.001).  The  histopathological  results  in  group  B  showed  faster  re-

epithelialization of the epidermis, proliferation of fibrin and regenerated epithelia, dense collagen fibers, and

finally complete regeneration of the epidermal layer at the end of study in compared with group A which was

showed  slowly development  in wound healing proses  and highly inflammatory  reaction. In conclusion,

FADM hydrogel enhanced and accelerated the healing of skin wounds in male goats.