Evaluation of PDGF-BB, PDGF-AA, bFGF, IL-1, and EGF dose responses in polyvinyl alcohol sponge implants assessed by a rapid histologic method.

Polyvinyl alcohol sponge implants were used in rats, mice, and guinea pigs to determine dose responses of growth factors. Eight differently treated sponges per rat or guinea pig (4/mouse) were injected with test material on alternate days and evaluated at day 8. Much of the observed response occurred in and around the capsule and was manifest as densely cellular granulation tissue. Including this capsular response in a single histologic slide ranking system provided a more sensitive and faster method of assessing growth factor effects than measurement of connective tissue ingrowth alone. Clear dose responsive effects were seen with recombinant human PDGF-BB, PDGF-AA, bFGF, and IL-1 beta, while EGF gave a lesser response. Lipopolysaccharide did not affect the connective tissue response, alone or in combination with PDGF-BB. PDGF-BB was tested in each species, and the dose response characteristics were qualitatively and quantitatively similar across species.