Promotion of cutaneous wound healing by famotidine in Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Drugs like famotidine, omeprazole and sucralfate which have been reported to promote the healing of gastric ulcers, may have the same effect on cutaneous wounds. Due to paucity of information in this regard, the present study was planned to investigate the effect of these drugs on resutured incision, excision and dead space wounds in Wistar rats. METHODS Resutured incision, excision and dead space wounds were inflicted under light ether anaesthesia aseptically. Control animals received vehicle and other groups received famotidine, omeprazole and sucralfate orally for a period of 10 days in the incision and dead space wounds, whereas in excision wounds till complete closure. On the 11th day after estimating breaking strength of the resutured incision wounds, animals were sacrificed and granulation tissue removed from dead space wounds to estimate the breaking strength and hydroxyproline content. Quantification of granulation tissue and histological studies were also carried out. Wound closure rate, epithelization time and scar features were studied in the excision wound models from the day of famotidine till complete closure of the wound. RESULTS Only famotidine significantly promoted the healing process in all the three wound models studied. Histopathological studies revealed increased collagen content and granulation tissue in famotidine treated group compared to control. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION In all the three wound models studied famotidine promoted wound healing whereas omeprazole and sucralfate did not do so. The pro healing effect of famotidine needs to be explored clinically.