Of 70 male Sprague Dawley rats injected with streptozocin, 62 were confirmed diabetic after 1 wk. Animals were randomized into two groups: (1) diabetic control and (2) diabetic treated with pravastatin. Pravastatin sodium was gavaged at 0.4 mg/kg/d for 5 d, after which all animals underwent dorsal incision with insertion of subcutaneous sponges. Breaking strengths and hydroxyproline were measured on days 1, 3, and 10 post-wounding. Wound fluid was analyzed for nitrate/nitrite production. Tissue samples were analyzed for eNOS expression.
We demonstrated enhanced wound breaking strengths, hydroxyproline accumulation, an up-regulation in eNOS expression, and elevated NO levels in the pravastatin treated group.
We have shown that pravastatin, in an experimental model of diabetes may through up-regulation of eNOS and NO expression improve wound healing.