Effects of systemic and topical estrogen application on the healing of full-thickness skin wounds in diabetic rats

• Published in: Comparative clinical pathology Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 653 - 659
• Main Authors: Khaksar, S., Kesmati, M., Rezaie, A., Rasekh, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer-Verlag 01.10.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Hematology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oncology; Original Article; Pathology; Diabetic rat; Wound healing; Histopathology; Topical application; Estrogen; Systemic application
• ISSN: 1618-5641; 1618-565X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00580-010-1151-x

In this research, the possible effects of systemic and topical estrogen were investigated on wound healing in normal and diabetic male rats. One hundred and ten male Wistar rats were divided into two groups (normal and diabetic). After induction of diabetes by streptozotocin in rats, each group was divided into three subgroups (control, sham, and test). A round full-thickness skin excision with 1.5-cm diameter was performed on the dorsum of each rat. In systemic use, 10 μG/SC of estradiol benzoate was administered daily to test subgroups for 28 days. In topical use, the wounds in the test subgroup rats were treated with a daily topical dose of 0.5 mg estrogen. Sham subgroup was injected with placebo and the control subgroup received nothing. The area of the wounds was measured by using scion image software at 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28 days. Histopathologic evaluation was assessed semi-quantitatively for different parameters including re-epithelization, neoangiogenesis, and granulation tissue formation. In macroscopic study, estradiol subgroups (systemic and topical application) wound healing had considerable changes in day 7 ( p  < 0.05). Histopathologic evaluation was revealed increased vascularization, re-epithelialization in estradiol subgroups. So, this research expressed that systemic and topical estrogen can improve the impaired healing of diabetic wounds.