Influence of basic fibroblast growth factor on in vivo endothelialization and healing of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts

Although it is known that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is an endothelial cell mitogen and chemoattractant, how it affects in vivo endothelialization and healing of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts has not been delineated. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of bFGF on endothelialization of ePTFE vascular prostheses. Non-reinforced ePTFE grafts (30-mm length, 5-mm inner diameter, 30-μm internodal distance) soaked in recombinant bFGF solution and non-treated ePTFE grafts were implanted in 10 mongrel dogs between the femoral arteries and veins. The grafts were harvested at 8 weeks and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for light microscopy. Compared with the control grafts, the bFGF grafts exhibited more confluently endothelialized luminal surfaces and a thicker surrounding connective tissue layer. Basic FGF promotes luminal endothelialization and healing of ePTFE grafts.