Growth factors and wound healing in the hamster.

We have investigated the effect of topically applied mitogenic preparations on the healing of full-thickness skin wounds in the Syrian hamster. In an attempt to accelerate the healing process, dexamethasone and insulin, platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, thrombin, defined medium F for fibroblasts, liver cell supernatant, epidermal growth factor, and colostrum were applied to the wounds. These mitogens had no significant influence on the rate of wound contraction or on the time to complete healing in full-thickness, noncompromised skin wounds in this animal model.