Effect of intradermal injection of heparinase III on skin wound healing in diabetic rats.

ABSTRACT

AIM: neuropathy and vascular damage in this disease. Heparanase is an endoglycosidase that degrades heparan sulfate in the extracellular matrix and is believed to promote angiogenesis. The present study has been performed to investigate the effect of heparinase III (an enzyme which exclusively cleaves heparan sulfate) on wound healing in diabetic rats. METHODS: The rats became diabetic by a single streptozotocin injection. Two weeks later, a wound was created by excision of the skin in the left paravertebral area. Heparinase III (0.2 unit) was injected intradermally around the wound every 5 days, starting on day one, for a total of three doses. The wound area was measured every 3 days. After completion of wound healing, full thickness skin samples were taken from the wound sites and evaluated for volume density of the collagen bundles, numerical density of the fibroblasts, and length density of the vessels. RESULTS: Heparinase III accelerated wound closure compared to control diabetic animals. Microscopical examination revealed that it increased angiogenesis with no significant effect on collagen density and the number of fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: Heparinase III induces angiogenesis and improves wound healing in diabetic animal model.