Abstract
The immunohistochemical expressions of FGF2, FGFR1, FGFR2, and their possible participation in the apoptosis of myofibroblast were studied in the healing process of a muscle flap transferred into the oral cavity of rats. At 14 days postoperatively, abundant myofibroblasts were observed in the early-granulating muscle flap, and at 18 days postoperatively, they began to gradually disappear. The FGF2 immunopositive area, the number of FGFR2-positive fibroblasts and TUNEL-positive fibroblasts reached a maximum at 18 days postoperatively and gradually decreased thereafter, and there was a significant correlation of expression between the FGFR2-positive fibroblast and TUNEL-positive fibroblast. On the other hand, FGFR1-positive fibroblasts were observed from day 10 to 21 in the granulation tissue formation of the muscle flap. These findings suggest that FGFR1 may participate as a factor affecting tissue remodeling of muscle flap healing, and that FGFR2 may play a role in programmed cell death or apoptosis of myofibroblast.
