Anat Cell Biol.  2012 Sep;45(3):170-177. 10.5115/acb.2012.45.3.170.

Aloe vera gel and thyroid hormone cream may improve wound healing in Wistar rats

• Tarameshloo M
• Norouzian
• Zarein-Dolab S
• Dadpay M
• Mohsenifar J
• Gazor R

• KMID: 2046744
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2012.45.3.170

Abstract

Therapeutic effects of various treatment options in wound healing have been one of the most controversial issues in surgical science. The present study was carried out to examine and compare the effects of Aloe vera gel, thyroid hormone cream and silver sulfadiazine cream onsutured incisions in Wistar rats. In a randomized controlled trial, thirty-six Wistar male rats, 250 to 300 g, received surgical incisions followed by topical application of Aloe vera gel, thyroid hormone cream and silver sulfadiazine 1%. To assess the efficacy of each treatment technique, a histological approach was used to evaluate the mean number of fibroblasts, macrophages, neutrophils, blood vessel sections and thickness of the regenerating epithelium and dermis on days 4, 7 and 14. Re-epithelialization and angiogenesis were significantly improved in Aloe vera gel group compared with the other treatments while thyroid hormone cream had positive effects on day 4 (P< or =0.05). Topical administration of Aloe vera gel is recommended as the treatment of choice for surgical incisions.

Keyword

Wound healing; Aloe; Thyroid hormones; Silver sulfadiazine; Wistar rats

MeSH Terms

Administration, Topical
Aloe
Animals
Blood Vessels
Dermis
Epithelium
Fibroblasts
Glycosaminoglycans
Humans
Macrophages
Male
Neutrophils
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Re-Epithelialization
Silver Sulfadiazine
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Hormones
Wound Healing
Glycosaminoglycans
Silver Sulfadiazine
Thyroid Hormones

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Diagram of the wounds model.

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  Fig. 2 Comparison of histological properties of incision wounds 4 days after surgery. Alphabetical letters show significant differences. Data are represented as mean±SEM. AV, Aloe vera; TC, thyroid hormone cream; SSD, silver sulfadiazine cream; V, vehicle; C, control; FB, fibroblast; MAC, macrophage; NEUT, neutrophil; VES, vessel sections; EPI, epithelial thickness; DERM, dermal thickness; mean±SEM, mean values±standard error of means of six experiments.

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  Fig. 3 Light micrographs (100×) of incisional wound bed of (A) Aloe vera group (n=6), (B) thyroid hormone cream group (n=6), (C) silver sulfadiazine cream group (n=6), (D) vehicle group (n=6), (E) control group (n=6) 4 days after surgery. Arrows depict blood vessel sections in Aloe vera and thyroid hormone cream groups. Scale bars=100 µm (A-E).

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  Fig. 4 Comparison of histological properties of incision wounds 7 days after surgery. Alphabetical letters show significant differences. Values are presented as mean±SEM. AV, Aloe vera; TC, thyroid hormone cream; SSD, silver sulfadiazine cream; V, vehicle; C, control; FB, fibroblast; MAC, macrophage; NEUT, neutrophil; VES, vessel sections; EPI, epithelial thickness; DERM, dermal thickness; mean±SEM, mean values±standard error of means of six experiments.

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  Fig. 5 Light micrographs (400×) of incisional wound bed of (A) Aloe vera group (n=6), (B) thyroid hormone cream group (n=6), (C) silver sulfadiazine cream group (n=6), (D) vehicle group (n=6), (E) control group (n=6) 7 days after surgery. Arrows depict blood vessel sections in Aloe vera and thyroid hormone cream groups. (F) Accumulation of macrophages in control group recognizably. Scale bars=20 µm (A-F).

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  Fig. 6 Comparison of histological properties of incision wounds 14 days after surgery. Alphabetical letters show significant differences. Values are presented as mean±SEM. AV, Aloe vera; TC, thyroid hormone cream; SSD, silver sulfadiazine cream; V, vehicle; C, control; FB, fibroblast; MAC, macrophage; NEUT, neutrophil; VES, vessel sections; EPI; epithelial thickness; DERM, dermal thickness; mean±SEM, mean values±standard error of means of six experiments.

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  Fig. 7 Light micrographs (100×) of incisional wound bed of (A) Aloe vera group (n=6), (B) thyroid hormone cream group (n=6), (C) silver sulfadiazine cream group (n=6), (D) vehicle group (n=6), (E) control group (n=6) 14 days after surgery. Marked areas depict accumulation of neutrophils in vehicle and control groups. (F) Accumulation of neutrophils in control group with a magnification of 400×. Scale bars=100 µm (A-E), 20 µm (F).

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