Effects of Buprenorphine, Chlorhexidine, and Low-level Laser Therapy on Wound Healing in Mice

Comp Med. 2021 Apr 16. doi: 10.30802/AALAS-CM-20-000104. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTSystemic buprenorphine and topical antiseptics such as chlorhexidine are frequently used in research animals to aid inpain control and to reduce infection, respectively. These therapeutics are controversial, especially when used in wound healing studies, due to conflicting data suggesting that they delay wound healing. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been used to aid in wound healing without exerting the systemic effects of therapies such as buprenorphine. We conducted 2 studies to investigate the effects of these common treatment modalities on the rate of wound healing in mice. The first study used models of punch biopsy and dermal abrasion to assess whether buprenorphine HCl or 0.12% chlorhexidine delayed woundhealing. The second study investigated the effects of sustained-released buprenorphine, 0.05% chlorhexidine, and LLLT on excisional wound healing. The rate of wound healing was assessed by obtaining photographs on days 0, 2, 4, 7, and 9 for the punch biopsy model in study 1, days 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, and 13 for the dermal abrasion model in study 1, and days 0, 3, 6, and 10 for the mice in study 2. Image J software was used to analyze the photographed wounds to determine the wound area.When comparing the wound area on the above days to the original wound area, no significant differences in healing wereobserved for any of the treatment groups at any time period for either study. G...
Source: Comparative Medicine - Category: Zoology Authors: Source Type: research