Background: This study was designed to determine the possible correlation between phenytoin and vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in the wound healing process.
Methods: Sixty Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups, each containing 15 animals. The experimental groups received a daily phenytoin treatment (10 mg) for 3 or 7 days following 3-cm dorsal skin incisions on the midline; the control group incisions were treated with 0.5 mL of saline solution during the same time periods. After completion of treatments, all animals were killed, and skin tissue samples were obtained.
Results: Histopathologic examination of all groups revealed that there were significantly increased (p<0.05) amounts of fibroblasts, collagen deposition, and blood vessels in the phenytoin-treated groups when compared to the control groups. Although immunolocalization of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor was weak in the 3-day phenytoin treatment groups, they were strongly expressed in the 7-day treatment group when compared to the control groups.
Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that the tissue alterations of the wound healing process could be accelerated by phenytoin and the potential local pathways of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor.