Spatial and Temporal Localization of FGF-2 and VEGF in Healing Tooth Extraction Sockets in a Rabbit Model

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that spatial and temporal localization of growth factors FGF-2 and VEGF in a rabbit tooth extraction socket model correlate with the histologic events of healing. Twenty-four male New Zealand white rabbits divided into 8 groups of 3 were used in the study. Incisor teeth were extracted from both jaws and the healing extraction socket with surrounding jaw bone was harvested at 48 hours, 4 days, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Tissues were fixed, decalcified, and processed for hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemical staining. The sections were stained to detect FGF-2 and VEGF. The stained sections were then imaged and an automated computer program was used to detect the brown diaminobenzidine stain that represented the growth factors of interest. Data was obtained in the form of percentage area and intensity of stain and analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA - Tukey Kramer and Scheffe’s post-test). Spatial and temporal differences in localization of FGF-2 and VEGF were observed across all time frames in both jaws. Statistically significant differences in percentage area and intensity of brown diaminobenzidine stain were seen temporally between FGF-2 and VEGF ( P < .05). The results of this study showed positive correlation of histologic events to spatial and temporal localization of FGF-2 and VEGF in a rabbit tooth extraction model.