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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
A Protocol for Constructing a Rat Wound Model of Type 1 Diabetes
Published on: February 17, 2023
Effect of pravastatin on experimental diabetic wound healing
Tereze Laing1, Richard Hanson, Fuan Chan
1Department of Surgery, RCSI Biomedical Research Institute, Beaumont, Dublin, Ireland. terezelaing@yahoo.com
Background:
Impaired wound healing in diabetes has been associated with abnormalities in wound nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) availability. Efforts to alter the profile of NO expression in the wound microenvironment have proven to be successful in partially restoring wound healing deficits. We investigated the effects of pravastatin, a HMG Co A reductase inhibitor on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression, NO production, and wound healing in a diabetic acute wound healing model.
Materials And Methods:
Of 70 male Sprague Dawley rats injected with streptozocin, 62 were confirmed diabetic after 1 wk. Animals were randomized into two groups: (1) diabetic control and (2) diabetic treated with pravastatin. Pravastatin sodium was gavaged at 0.4 mg/kg/d for 5 d, after which all animals underwent dorsal incision with insertion of subcutaneous sponges. Breaking strengths and hydroxyproline were measured on days 1, 3, and 10 post-wounding. Wound fluid was analyzed for nitrate/nitrite production. Tissue samples were analyzed for eNOS expression.
Results:
We demonstrated enhanced wound breaking strengths, hydroxyproline accumulation, an up-regulation in eNOS expression, and elevated NO levels in the pravastatin treated group.
Conclusion:
We have shown that pravastatin, in an experimental model of diabetes may through up-regulation of eNOS and NO expression improve wound healing.
Insights
Pravastatin treatment improved wound healing in diabetic rats by increasing nitric oxide (NO) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression. This suggests pravastatin may be a potential therapeutic for diabetic wound healing complications.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Diabetic Complications Research
- Wound Healing Studies
Background:
- Diabetes impairs wound healing, linked to reduced nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS).
- Modulating NO in the wound environment can partially restore healing.
- Pravastatin, a statin, was investigated for its effects on NO pathways and healing in diabetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of pravastatin on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression.
- To assess pravastatin's effect on nitric oxide (NO) production in diabetic wounds.
- To evaluate pravastatin's efficacy in improving wound healing in a diabetic model.
Main Methods:
- Diabetic rat model induced by streptozocin.
- Treatment with pravastatin (0.4 mg/kg/d) or placebo.
- Assessment of wound breaking strength, hydroxyproline, NO levels, and eNOS expression.
Main Results:
- Pravastatin treatment significantly enhanced wound breaking strength.
- Increased hydroxyproline accumulation was observed in pravastatin-treated rats.
- Up-regulation of eNOS expression and elevated NO levels were noted with pravastatin.
Conclusions:
- Pravastatin up-regulates eNOS expression and NO production in diabetic wounds.
- Pravastatin demonstrates potential to improve wound healing in experimental diabetes.
- Targeting NO pathways with pravastatin may offer a therapeutic strategy for diabetic wound healing.
