Experimental Research on the Influence of Ion Channels on the Healing of Skin Wounds in Rats

Abstract

At the level of skin wounds, an electrical potential difference develops between the edges of the wound and the center of the wound, which favors the migration of cells in the process of their healing. Cells migrate in an electric field because they have a certain electrical membrane potential. This potential is due to differences in the transmembrane electrochemical gradient. The transmembrane electrochemical gradient is due to the migration of sodium, potassium, and calcium ions into the corresponding ion channels. If this is the case, the modification of the functionality of these ion channels should influence the membrane potential and, as a consequence, the wound healing process. In this experiment, we set out to investigate whether the chemical manipulation of ion channels by amiodarone influences the wound healing process. Amiodarone blocks several types of ion channels, but at different concentrations: at low concentrations, it blocks only potassium channels; at medium concentrations, potassium and calcium channels; and at high concentrations, it blocks potassium, calcium, and sodium channels. We worked on rats that were given experimental skin lesions and evaluated the influence of the healing of these lesions upon the topical administration of amiodarone in three concentrations, 200 nM, 2000 nM and 200,000 nM, compared to an untreated group and a group treated with benzyl alcohol, the amiodarone solvent. In our experimental conditions, low concentration amiodarone promoted wound healing both in terms of duration of healing and also in terms of speed of healing. This means that blocking some ions, possibly potassium channels, might promote wound healing.

Latest Insights into the In Vivo Studies in Murine Regarding the Role of TRP Channels in Wound Healing—A Review

“…In a recent study of our research team, it was demonstrated that blocking potassium channels leads to wound healing. Since the potassium current is a depolarizing current, while the calcium and sodium currents are repolarizing, the blocking potassium current increases the membrane potential, which is counteracted by blocking the calcium and sodium currents [ 83 , 84 ].…”

Latest Insights into the In Vivo Studies Regarding the Role of TRP Channels in Wound Healing—A Review

“…In a recent study of our research team, it has been demonstrated that blocking potassium channels leads to wound healing. Since potassium current is a depolarizing current, while calcium and sodium currents are repolarizing, blocking potassium current increases the membrane potential, which is counteracted by blocking calcium and sodium currents [76,77].…”