title: Effect of Topical Morphine on Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in an Animal Model: A Preliminary Report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pentavalent antimonials remain the choice of treatment for leishmaniasis, despite their toxicity, high cost, and difficult administration. As an alternative, morphine may induce the healing process of cutaneous leishmaniasis by its immunoregulatory characteristics.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of morphine on the wound-healing process of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in a mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an experimental study in which 40 BALB/c mice (female, 6 - 8 weeks) were divided into four groups (each n = 10) who received either placebo alone (group 1), morphine ointment after parasite inoculation (group 2), morphine ointment after wound occurrence (group 3), or placebo after wound occurrence (group 4). Wound size was measured weekly for eight weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the first day of treatment, the lesions measured ~1.5 mm in diameter. After eight weeks of treatment, the wound size was significantly smaller in the mice who received morphine ointment (4.81 ± 3.22 mm) compared to those who received placebo after parasite inoculation (8.95 ± 5.71 mm; P = 0.0001) or placebo after wound occurrence (P = 0.028).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The above data suggest that topical application of morphine accelerates the healing process of CL wounds. We are cautiously optimistic that the results of this study can be used clinically for potentiating CL wound-healing.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Fariborz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghaffarpasand
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Afsoon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akbarzadeh
authors.affiliation: Autoimmune Disease Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Heiran
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Asghar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akbarzadeh
authors.affiliation: Zoonoses Research Center, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamed Amin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ghobadifar
keywords: BALB/c; Cutaneous Leishmaniasis; Leishmania major; Mice; Topical Morphine