Comparison of the effects of Contractubex® gel in an experimental model of scar formation in rats: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.
BACKGROUND
Contractubex® gel, a commercial treatment for scars, consists of a mixture of onion extract (cepea extract), heparin sodium, and allantoin. It exerts a softening and smoothing effect on indurated, hypertrophic, painful, and cosmetically-disfiguring scar tissue.


OBJECTIVE
To compare and discuss the immunohistochemical and ultrastructural effects of treatment of an experimental scar in a rat model with Contractubex gel.


METHODS
Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Skin biopsies were taken to develop full thickness wounds. After 10 days, Contractubex gel, heparin, and allantoin were topically applied daily to groups 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Group 1 was the control group. On the 30th day, scar tissues were excised to investigate the immunohistochemical and ultrastructural effects of these agents. For this purpose we used TGF-beta, laminin, and fibronectin primary antibodies.


RESULTS
Increased immunoreactivities of laminin, fibronectin, and TGF-beta in control group, moderate immunoreactivities in heparin and allantoin groups, and mild immunoreactivities in the Contractubex gel group were observed. In semi-thin sections, Group 2 showed the thinnest epidermis of the four groups. In electron micrographs of Group 2, completely keratinized and normally appearing cells could be seen.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural observations demonstrated that the Contractubex gel significantly improved the quality of wound healing and reduction of scar formation. Also, it was a more appropriate treatment choice than heparin monotherapy and allantoin monotherapy in keloidal and hypertrophic scars.
Department of Dermatology, Celal Bayar University Medical Faculty, Manisa, Turkey. mustafaturhan@superonline.com
Mustafa T
MT
Sahin
Sevinc
S
Inan
Serap
S
Ozturkcan
Elif
E
Guzel
Cemal
C
Bilac
Gülsen
G
Giray
Sevda
S
Muftuoglu
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000481:Allantoin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004338:Drug Combinations; D005782:Gels; D010936:Plant Extracts; C053099:allantoin, heparin, onion extract drug combination; D000481:Allantoin; D006493:Heparin