The Effect of a Topical Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor on Skin-Wound Scarring of the Rabbit Ear.

Kim, Do Yup; Park, Jin Hyung; Chun, Bong Kwon; Han, Yea Sik

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2011;38(4):351-358.
Published online July 1, 2011.

The Effect of a Topical Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor on Skin-Wound Scarring of the Rabbit Ear.

Do Yup Kim, Jin Hyung Park, Bong Kwon Chun, Yea Sik Han

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. hanplastic1@naver.com
²Department of Pathology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
The inflammatory phase is considered an integral part of adult wound healing, but fetal wound healing studies have shown scarless healing results in the absence of the inflammation process. The COX-2 pathway is an essential component of inflammation. The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of a topical selective COX-2 inhibitor on inflammation in rabbit skin wound healing and scarring. METHODS: Full-thickness wounds were made on 6 New Zealand rabbits' ears. Topical 5% celecoxib + vehicle (experimental tissue) and vehicle only (controlled tissue) were applied daily for 14d on each side of the ears. Scar samples were harvested at 2 wks, 4 wks, and 8 wks after the wounding. Each sample was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and the Masson's trichrome stain to evaluate inflammation and scar formation.
RESULTS
Histological analysis demonstrated a significant reduction of inflammation, neovascularization, and scar elevation in the experimental tissue as compared to the control. Additionally, experimental tissue exhibited faster improvement of collagen organization similar to that of normal tissue.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that the topical application of a selective COX-2 inhibitor on a rabbit ear wound resulted in decreased inflammation and had a positive effect on the reduction of scar formation.

Keywords: Cyclooxygenase inhibitors; Scar