Effects of topical copper tripeptide complex on wound healing in an irradiated rat model

Parker NP, Ardeshirpour F, Schmechel SC, Lassig AA · Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

Null. No difference in caveolin-1-stained vessel number (209.0 vs 207.4, P=.973), vessel luminal area (525.7 vs 422.8 µm², P=.118) or fibroblast VEGF staining (0.34 vs 0.54, P=.169). Mean ischaemic flap area was numerically larger in the treated group (5.0 vs 3.8 cm², P=.011 against a prespecified threshold of P<.01).

Population

23 Sprague-Dawley rats with dorsal irradiation, 28-day recovery, then 2 × 8 cm cranially based dorsal flaps

Intervention

Topical GHK-Cu gel twice daily for 10 days

Comparator

Aquaphilic ointment

Limitations

Small groups (13 test, 10 control) and a flap-ischaemia rather than a closure endpoint. It is the in-vivo counterpart of the positive irradiated-fibroblast culture work (pmid-15655171) and it did not reproduce it.