The effect of intraperitoneal administration of 1%chitooligosaccharide on the process of full-thickness skin wound healing in mice

Abstract

PURPOSE: Since systematic administration of 1 % chitooligosaccharide facilitates wound healing of the oral mucosal membrane, we investigated whether 1% chitooligosaccharide injected intraperitoneally would promote healing of full-thickness skin wound in mice.
METHODS: The experimental period was 14 days. Thirty-four mice were divided into two groups. Two full-thickness skin wounds were made on the mouse dorsum under anesthesia. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with 0.2ml saline per day for 14 days after wounding. The experimental group was intraperitoneally injected with 0.2ml chitooligosaccharide after wounding. Wounds were covered with hydrocolloid dressings.
RESULTS: The wound healing process was similar between control and experimental groups, but the wound size in the experimental group on day 14 was significantly smaller than that in the control group. Although the histological findings such as re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, and deposition of collagen in the experimental group were similar to those in the control group, the ratio of myofibroblasts occupying granulation tissue in the experimental group on 10 day was significantly different from that in the control group.
CONCLUSION: Although intraperitoneal injection of 1 % chitooligosaccharide probably does not promote healing of full-thickness skin wound, the size of the wound area on day 14 may indicate a slight effect of chitooligosaccharide on wound healing, and thus warrants further research.