Wallengren J, Chen D, Sundler F, et al.
The British journal of dermatology. Date of publication 1999 Mar 1;volume 140(3):400-8.
1. Br J Dermatol. 1999 Mar;140(3):400-8.
Neuropeptide-containing C-fibres and wound healing in rat skin. Neither capsaicin
nor peripheral neurotomy affect the rate of healing.
Wallengren J(1), Chen D, Sundler F.
Author information:
(1)Department of Dermatology, Lund University Hospital, Sweden.
Wound healing in rat skin was studied in standardized wounds inflicted on both
hind legs after unilateral sciatic nerve sectioning and/or capsaicin-induced
depletion of sensory nerve (C-fibre) neuropeptide content. Daily visual
inspection, histological examination and immunohistochemistry with antibodies
against substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), vasoactive
intestinal peptide, neuropeptide Y and a pan-neuronal marker, protein gene
product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) were used to assess wound healing and determine the
distribution of dermal nerve fibres. In controls, nerve fibre density in the
wound tissue was low during the first few days after wound infliction, but
started to increase on day 4, reaching a peak on day 7 when 25% of medial wounds
and 70% of lateral wounds were healed. All wounds were healed on day 11, a scar
appearing on day 14 followed by a decrease in nerve fibre density. Capsaicin
treatment and/or sciatic nerve sectioning reduced the density of
CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibres by 70% and that of PGP 9.5-immunoreactive fibres
by 50%. The capsaicin-induced reduction in PGP 9.5-immunoreactive nerve fibre
density is attributable to partial destruction of peripheral nerve fibres.
CGRP-immunoreactive and PGP 9.5-immunoreactive nerve fibre density was restored
both in capsaicin-treated and denervated groups, reaching a maximum,
corresponding to the original level, by days 4-10. Neither the reduction in nerve
fibre density following sciatic nerve sectioning nor the impairment of sensory
nerve functional capacity following capsaicin treatment affected the rate of
wound healing, all wounds being closed on day 11. The study shows that it is
difficult to knock out all cutaneous sensory innervation. Thirty per cent of
C-fibre innervation seems enough to ensure a normal wound healing.
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1999.02699.x
PMID: 10233257 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
