Study on the effect of medicinal leech therapy (Hirudo medicinalis) on full-thickness excisional wound healing in the animal model. (31st December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zakian, Amir; Ahmadi, Hamid Amir; Keleshteri, Mehdi Hosseini; Madani, Amir; Tehrani-Sharif, Meysam; Rezaie, Annahita; Davoodi, Farshid; Kish, Ghasem Farjani; Raisi, Abbas; Langerudi, Matin Taghipour; Pasha, Milad Babaii Moghadam
• Is Part Of: Research in veterinary science. Volume 153(2022)
• Page Start: 153
• Page End: 168
• Publication Date: 2022-12-31
• Subjects: Excisional -- Hirudo medicinalis -- Leech therapy -- Wound healing -- Animal model; MLT Medicinal leech therapy -- PAFA Platelet-activating factor antagonist -- NC Negative control -- PC Positive control -- H&E Hematoxylin-Eosin -- PAS Periodic acid-Schiff -- MPO Myeloperoxidase -- ALP Alkaline Phosphatase -- DAPI 4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole -- MNC Morphonuclear cell -- PMN Polymorphonuclear cell; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine vétérinaire -- Périodiques; Médecine vétérinaire -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Diergeneeskunde; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.10.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-5288

Abstract

Abstract: The possible impacts of alternative and conventional medicines on wound healing are now of growing interest. This study aimed to evaluate and elucidate the wound healing activity of medicinal leech therapy in wound excision of the rat model. After a round, full-thickness excision was made in the dorsal region of the body, the animals ( n = 30) were randomly divided into three equal groups: I) the treatment group (MLT), where the wounds received leech treatment; II) the positive control group (PC), where the wounds received 1% sodium phenytoin treatment; and III) the negative control group (NC), where the wounds did not receive any treatment. On days 6 and 16, wound biopsy specimens were taken, and prepared sections were stained using various methods. The contraction rate differed significantly ( P < 0.05) between the NC group and the other groups. The histopathological evaluation revealed that MLT group showed an accelerated healing process and lower inflammatory response compared to other groups. In ML-treated group maturation and remodeling of collagen had occurred, while in 1% sodium phenytoin treated group, proliferation was the prominent feature. Results showed that the fibroblast was significantly lower in the NC group in comparison to other groups. The number of MNC, s, and PMN, s was significantly higher in the NC group compared to other groups ( P < 0.0001). In our study, medicinal leech therapy had a higher success rate in healing for the treatment of excisional wounds in animal models. Highlights: Beneficial effects of leech saliva are vasodilation, anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulant, anti-bacterial, better tissue perfusion, angiogenesis, and analgesia. An accelerated healing process and predominant collagen maturation and remodeling was observed in the medicinal leech therapy (MLT) group. Results showed the establishment of condensed elastic fibers on day 16 in ML-treated group compared to other groups. Increased intracytoplasmic carbohydrate accumulation was found on day 16 in ML-treated and PC groups. Medicinal leech therapy (MLT) induces a decrease in MPO-positive stained cells on days 6 and 16 compared to other groups.