The time-dependent effect of exogenous epidermal growth factor administration on oxidant events in submandibular glands of New Zeland-type male rabbits

BACKGROUND an‎d AIM: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays an important role in the wound healing process. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of EGF on salivary gland oxidative events due to the incision wound created in the oral mucosa. METHODS: In the experiments, 42 New Zealand male rabbits weighing about 2.5 kg were used. Then submucosal incisions were created and subjects were divided into groups: control group (only the incision wound was not applied), untreated incisional group, and EGF therapy group. Subjects were anesthetized on days 1, 3, and 5 after injury and the tissues were removed immediately. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), the end product of lipid peroxidation, and glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (AA) levels, which are important antioxidants, were measured by spectrophotometric methods in salivary glands. The results were compared with Mann-Whitney U and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. RESULTS: The thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reagent levels of the EGF-treated group were found to be significantly reduced on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th days when compared with the data of other group. It was determined that there was a reduction in GSH data from day 1 to day 5 with a similar ratio in both untreated incisional group and EGF therapy group. No statistically significant difference was observed in the days examined within both untreated incisional group and EGF therapy group. CONCLUSION: It was observed that processes including submandibular gland oxidative events and antioxidant responses during wound healing were affected by EGF.