Efficacy of concentrated growth factors for tympanic membrane perforation: a study in guinea pigs

Abstract Concentrated growth factors (CGF) are complexes comprising a fibrin matrix that incorporates growth factors, plasma, and leukocyte cytokines. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of CGF as a tympanic membrane regeneration therapy in a guinea pig eardrum perforation model. Large tympanic membrane perforations (TMPs) were created in 34 ears of 17 guinea pigs. The ears were divided into the CGF, saline, and control groups. On day 14, considerable differences in perforation closure were observed among the CGF, saline, and control groups. On day 28, the ratio of closure was not considerable between the CGF and saline groups, whereas it was substantially higher in the CGF group than in the control group. Histological observations using hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that the regenerated tympanic membrane was thicker in the CGF group than in the saline group, and the regeneration of the fibrous layer was remarkable in the CGF group than that in the saline group. The results suggest that CGF induces tympanic membrane regeneration and can be used to treat TMPs conservatively.