Effects of Azelnidipine-Carboxymethylcellulose Gel on Healing of Full-Thickness Skin Wounds in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of azelnidipine-carboxyl methyl cellulose (AZL-CMC) gel and carboxyl methyl cellulose 2% gel (CMC) on the healing of full-thickness skin wounds of diabetic rats.

Methods: Fifteen Sprague Dawley male rats were studied. The rats were divided into three groups: AZL-CMC gel-treated, CMC 2% gel-treated, and control group. Wounds were assessed by wound area measurement every 3 days and histopathology samples were collected at 4, 7 and 12 days post wounding to evaluate the healing process using stereological study. Mann-Whitney U-test repeated measurement and non-parametric one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the data using SPSS, version 18.

Results: Numerical density of the fibroblasts of the AZL-CMC gel treated group was 59.17±2.69 (×10⁴/mm³) and higher than the control 22.64±1.34 (×10⁴/mm³) and CMC 2%-treated groups 40.80±5.27 (×10⁴/mm³), respectively, P<0.001. The volume density of the collagen bundles and LV of the vessels were 83.1±4.46 and 42.16±5.78, respectively, in the AZL-CMC treated group, and higher compared to the control (53.96±5.07, 9.9±2.49) and the CMC 2%-treated (65.88±2.13, 18.1±2.20) groups (P <0.001).

Conclusion: The healing of AZL-CMC gel-treated wound was better than the control wounds, grossly. Wound healing processes and wound closure in the intervention group began sooner and was completed more quickly. The quantitative and qualitative parameters showed the significant wound healing effect of the AZL-CMC gel-treated group.