Healing action of nerve growth factor on lameness in adult goats.

We investigated the effect of nerve growth factor in goats affected by lameness, a condition that is associated with cutaneous ulcers, abscesses and granulomas. Lesions were treated daily with 1 microgram of nerve growth factor (NGF), dissolved in 100 microliters of sesame oil or with sesame oil only. Healthy controls were treated with sesame oil only for periods ranging from two to four weeks and behavioral, biochemical and histopathological conditions were evaluated. Topical application of NGF, but not sesame oil, promoted ulcer healing in all goats within two-three weeks of treatment. The effect of NGF was to re-establish in about 60 days normal locomotion and indirectly to improve feeding behavior and milk production. These findings suggest that NGF might be clinically useful for healing damaged skin in goats and confirm previous studies on human corneal ulcers.