摘要：Summary. - 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 μg of nerve
growth factor (NGF), dissolved in 100 μl 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.
