Effects of montelukast on burn wound healing in a rat model

Montelukast, a selective cysteinyl leukotriene D4-receptor antagonist, is used in the treatment of asthma. In a rat model, our aim was to investigate the effects of montelukast, alone or in combination with topical antibiotics, on local burn wound healing.

Rats were randomly allocated to four groups after local burn development: Group 1; rats were left to secondary healing without treatment, Group 2; a dose of 10 mg/kg montelukast was given by gastric gavage once a day for 10 days, Group 3; rats were treated with topical pomade (bacitracin neomycin sulphate), and Group 4; rats were treat with a combination of topical antibiotic and montelukast (10 mg/kg were given by gastric gavage once a day for 10 days). Skin biopsies were taken on days 3, 10, 14, and 20 relative to burn induction.

Reepithelialization in the pomade and montelukast+pomade groups on the 10th day was significantly greater, in comparison with control and montelukast groups (p < 0.05). For the montelukast group, edema (on the 14th day) and angiogenesis, fibroblast proliferation, edema and macrophage infiltration (on the 20th day) were statistically improved in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). For the montelukast+pomade group, angiogenesis, fibroblast proliferation and macrophage infiltration (on the 10th day), and angiogenesis, fibroblast proliferation, edema and macrophage infiltration (on the 14th and 20th days) were statistically improved in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05).

In conclusion, montelukast was effective on burn wound healing. Moreover, the effect was amplified when combined with topical antibiotics applied in the early stage of burn wound healing.