Abstract
Injectable bovine collagen has been used for vocal fold augmentation in human subjects. The purpose of this study was to examine the wound healing and tissue reaction of canine vocal folds in which collagen was injected. Two forms of bovine collagen, cross-linked and not cross-linked, were injected into vocal folds of dogs; the animals were killed 9 weeks and 17 weeks after injection.Immunohistochemical study in three growth factors, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), was performed. Not cross-linked collagen delayed normal wound healing process and implants tended to be absorbed in a long-term. On the other hand, cross-linked collagen did not disturb the wound healing process and tended to persist in the tissue with good stability.
