Effect of Topical Morphine on Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in an Animal Model: A Preliminary Report
نویسندگان
1 Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran
2 Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
3 Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran
4 Autoimmune Disease Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran
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چکیده
Background: Pentavalent antimonials remain the choice of treatment for leishmaniasis, despite their toxicity, high cost, and difficultadministration. As an alternative, morphine may induce the healing process of cutaneous leishmaniasis by its immunoregulatorycharacteristics.Objectives: To study the effect of morphine on the wound-healing process of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in a mouse model.Materials and Methods: This was an experimental study in which 40 BALB/c mice (female, 6 - 8 weeks) were divided into fourgroups (eachn= 10)whoreceived either placebo alone (group 1), morphine ointment after parasite inoculation (group 2), morphineointment after wound occurrence (group 3), or placebo after wound occurrence (group 4). Wound size was measured weekly foreight weeks.Results: On the first day of treatment, the lesions measured 1.5mmin diameter. After eight weeks of treatment, the wound size wassignificantly smaller in the mice who received morphine ointment (4.813.22 mm) compared to those who received placebo afterparasite inoculation (8.955.71 mm; P = 0.0001) or placebo after wound occurrence (P = 0.028).Conclusions: The above data suggest that topical application of morphine accelerates the healing process of CL wounds. We arecautiously optimistic that the results of this study can be used clinically for potentiating CL wound-healing.
