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A pilot study on lipolytic effect of subcutaneous botulinum toxin injection in rabbits
Mansooreh Bagheri1, Behnam Moein Jahromi, Mandana Bagheri
1Student Research Center, Department of Pathology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Objective:
To determine whether botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) exerts a lipolytic effect by interfering with acetylcholine transmission at the cholinergic parasympathetic nerve endings.
Study Design:
Fifteen male rabbits were divided into 3 equal groups: 1 control group (A) and 2 case groups (B and C). The abdomens of all rabbits were divided into a 3 x 3-square grid. The groups received 9 subcutaneous injections of 0.9% normal saline, 1 U BTX-A (group B) and 2 U BTX-A (group C), respectively. Four weeks later the entire grid was excised from the abdominal area. Hematoxylin-eosin-stained tissue was used for stereologic analysis to estimate cell surface and volume in 100 randomly selected cells.
Results:
Gross thinning of subcutaneous fat and shattering and disappearance of fat globules were seen in both case groups. Fat cell volume was reduced by 65% in group B (p = 0.009) and 77% in group C (p = 0.009) compared to control animals. Fat cell surface also decreased by 51% in group B (p = 0.009) and 63% in group C rabbits (p = 0.009) compared to control animals.
Conclusion:
Our pilot animal study revealed a dose-dependent lipolytic effect of subcutaneous BTX-A injection.
