Continuous Electrical Current and Zinc Sulphate Administered by Transdermal Iontophoresis Improves Skin Healing in Diabetic Rats Induced by Alloxan: Morphological and Ultrastructural Analysis

Abstract

Purpose. Evaluated the effects of continuous electrical current (CEC) or zinc administrated by transdermal iontophoresis (Zn+TDI). Methods. 120 male Wistar rats were submitted to an incision surgery at the anterior region of abdomen and distributed into 6 experimental groups with 40 animals: 3 diabetic groups and 3 normal groups, untreated and treated with CEC alone or with Zn + TDI. Each group was further divided into 4 subgroups with 10 rats each to be evaluated on the 4th, 7th, 14th, and 21st day after surgery. In each period, clinical and laboratory parameters from the animals were analyzed. Results. The analysis by optical and scanning electron microscopy showed a delay in the phases of wound healing in diabetic rats without treatment in all periods of the experiment; breaking strength (BS) was significantly reduced in skin scars of untreated diabetic rats when compared to other groups. In contrast, BS in skin scars of nondiabetic groups and diabetic rats treated with Zn + TDI showed significant increase in those, besides not presenting delayed healing. Conclusion. Electrical stimulation of surgical wounds used alone or in association with zinc by TDI is able to consistently improve the morphological and ultrastructural changes observed in the healing of diabetic animals.

Chitosan Membrane Modified With a New Zinc(II)-Vanillin Complex Improves Skin Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats

“…In this work, we combined the properties of these substances through the development of a new chitosan membrane modified with [Zn(phen)(van) 2 ] complex and evaluated the delivery capacity of compound in an aqueous medium and the wound healing activity in diabetic rats. Other authors corroborate the data obtained in this research, where dressings or compounds based on zinc and or chitosan increased wound healing in rat models (Kumar et al, 2012; Cassettari et al, 2013, 2014).…”

Repeated Whole-Body Exposure to Low-Dose Radiation Combined With Topical Application of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Zinc Accelerates Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats

“…A previous study showed that topical zinc through the use of transdermal iontophoresis can increase the breaking strength in skin scars and accelerate wound healing in diabetic rats. 27 Furthermore, it has been reported that topical application of zinc oxide in wound of diabetic rat significantly inhibited bacterial growth in granulation tissue, which disclosed one of the potential underlying mechanisms through which zinc supplement promote wound healing of diabetes. In the current study, we found that spraying a topical 4% ZnSO 4 solution could promote vascular regeneration and tissue reconstruction in wound healing, thereby accelerating wound healing in diabetic rats.…”

“… 23 - 25 Therefore, topical application of zinc in diabetic wounds has shown the promise in a diabetic rat model. 26 , 27 …”

The Role of Zinc in Renal Pathological Changes in Diabetic Status

“…The relationship between Zn deficiency and DM has been the subject of many studies, some using animal models [33][34][35] and some human subjects [36,37]. Diabetic subjects are commonly tested for blood glucose levels due to inadequate levels of insulin produced by the pancreas.…”