title: Topical pluronic F-127 gel application enhances cutaneous wound healing in rats.
abstract: Pluronic F-127 gel is used as vehicle for various topical applications. In the present study, effects of topical application of pluronic F-127 gel were evaluated in cutaneous wound healing in Wistar rats. Normal saline solution and pluronic F-127 gel (25%) were applied topically on open excision wounds for 14 days. Photography, determination of percentage wound contraction, and collection of granulation tissue were done on days 3, 7, 11 and 14 post-wounding. Topical application of gel (once daily) significantly increased the wound closure on days 11 and 14. The gel application increased the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β₁) on days 3 and 7. Histopathologically, more leukocyte infiltration followed by well formed granulation tissue with marked fibroblast proliferation was evident in the gel-treated group, as compared to the saline-treated control group. Immunohistochemistry of CD31 on day 7 revealed significant higher microvessel density in gel-treated wounds. Picrosirius staining demonstrated higher collagen fraction in gel-treated wounds. Thus, from the results, it could be concluded that pluronic F-127 gel has a mild inflammatory nature and enhanced the healing by stimulating expression of VEGF and TGF-β₁.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243122 UP, India.
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kant
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243122 UP, India.
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gopal
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243122 UP, India.
authors.forename: Dhirendra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243122 UP, India.
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gopalkrishnan
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243122 UP, India.
authors.forename: Nitya N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243122 UP, India.
authors.forename: Nitin P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Kurade
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243122 UP, India.
authors.forename: Surendra K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tandan
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243122 UP, India. Electronic address: dineshks17@ivri.res.in.
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005782:Gels; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D020442:Poloxamer
keywords: Collagen; Microvessel density; Pluronic F-127 gel; Rats; Transforming growth factor-beta1; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Wound healing