Comparison of acidic fibroblast growth factor on collagen carrier with calcium hydroxide as pulp capping agents in monkeys

–  Acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) has been shown to facilitate wound healing by stimulating fibroblast proliferation and angiogenesis. It has also been reported to possess a powerful anti-apoptotic function This study compared the histological pulp responses to aFGF on collagen carrier and Ca(OH)2 placed on the mechanically exposed dental pulp in monkeys at two observation periods. Thirty-six teeth with pulp exposures were distributed into three groups according to the capping agents used prior to application of the coronal seal: collagen-based matrix carrier (group 1), aFGF on the collagen-based matrix carrier (group 2) and aqueous calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] paste (group 3). Specimens were harvested at 6 and 13 weeks postoperatively and prepared for hematoxylin and eosin, and Gram staining. Histological qualitative evaluation of pulp responses were performed under the light microscope following criteria modified from Cox et al. (17) and Hu et al. (18). Semi-quantitative analysis was also carried out using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U-tests. There was neither negligible inflammatory infiltrates with no bacteria present in the three groups at both timings, nor was there any significant difference in the soft tissue organization among the three groups at or between the 6- and 13-week observation periods. At 6 weeks, the hard tissue barrier produced by Ca(OH)2 group (1.040 ± 0.089) was significantly more superior than aFGF/collagen carrier group (1.930 ± 0.825) (P = 0.030) as well as collagen carrier group (3.142 ± 1.069, P = 0.018). At 13 weeks, both aFGF/collagen carrier group (1.214 ± 0.485) and the collagen carrier group (1.457 ± 0.814) produced significantly better hard tissue barrier (P = 0.040 and P = 0.017, respectively) than earlier timing. However, these two groups did not induce significantly improved hard tissue barrier compared to that produced by aqueous Ca(OH)2 paste which stimulated matrix secretion in a polar tubular dentin-like pattern.