EFFECTS OF TOPICALLY APPLIED BIOADHESIVE CARRIERS ON ZINC AND HYDROXYPROLINE LEVELS OF RABBIT FULL-THICKNESS SKIN WOUND

Sibel DINÇER*, Bilge GÖNÜL*°, Ethem GELIR*, F. Nazli DINÇER**

*Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Physiology Department, 06100 Etiler, Ankara, TURKEY.
**Ankara University Research Center, Ankara, TURKEY.
°Corresponding Author

Summary:
The effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in polyacrylic acid (carbopol) gel vehicle on the zinc level in the treatment of rabbit skin incision wounds was previously published. In this previous study the tonicity of the vehicle was not adjusted and a preservative was not used in the dosage form of EGF. Artificial tears were prepared with polyacrylic acid adjusting of the pH and tonicity. These preparations had different preservatives and were at different concentrations. In this study we investigated the effect of two carbopol preparations (commercial artificial tears) on the zinc and hydroxyproline levels of incision wounds.
The full-thickness wounds, 4 cm in length, were inflicted bilaterally to the skins on the backs of 21 New Zealand albino rabbits, under xylazine+ketamine anesthesia. Operated rabbits were divided into 3 groups. The wounds of 2 groups were treated with carbopol preparations, 20 ?L for each wound twice a day for 5 days. Third group was untreated. At the end of 5 days, excised wound tissues and normal skin samples were kept at –30oC temperature until zinc and hydroxyproline measurements were made.
Treated or untreated wound zinc and hydroxyproline levels were significantly higher than normal skin zinc and hydroxyproline levels. There was no statistical difference between treated and untreated wound zinc and hydroxyproline levels.
According to the results of this study on wound zinc and hydroxyproline levels, we suggest that carpobol gels do not change wound tissue zinc and hydroxyproline composition in 5 days and they are suitable carriers even if the concentration, pH, tonicity agents and preservation properties are different.

Key words:
Carbopol 940, Wound healing, Zinc, Hydroxyproline.