Long-term effect of early protein/calorie malnutrition on bFGF availability in rat skin

Abstract

Sequelae after recovering from undernutrition, mostly early post-natal undernutrition, is a very controversial issue. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is an important growth factor acting during wound healing. Our objective was to observe the presence of this growth factor in the skin of undernourished, undernourished/recovered and control animals by immunohistochemical methods. Protein-calorie malnutrition was produced by separating young rats from the mothers for 10 hours/day during the suckling period (21 days after birth). Undernourished rats were then kept on normal food for recovering. Undernutrition and recovered states were assessed by body weight. Animals at the same age, not submitted to undernutrition, were the controls. The results in undernourished group were according to those reported in the literature. Our results also showed, in control animals, higher bFGF availability in wounded area from day 1 up to day 3 after surgery; and higher deficiency on undernourished animals, even after recovery from nutritional depletion, at the same period. It was also interesting to notice the basal bFGF deficiency in recovered animals. The results obtained for the recovered animals support the hypothesis that early malnutrition has late effects on wound healing, even after physical recovery.