Analysis Of Nerve And Neuropeptide Patterns In Vacuum-Assisted Closure-Treated Diabetic Murine Wounds

Background: Reestablishment of the peripheral nervous system occurs in parallel with wound healing. With accelerated wound healing seen with the vacuum-assisted closure device, the authors studied its effects on nerve fiber regeneration, nerve sprouting, and the stimulation of neuropeptides and neurotrophins.Methods: A vacuum-assisted closure device was applied to a full-thickness diabetic mouse wound using continuous or cyclical modes and compared with foam dressing or occlusive dressing controls, using 10 mice per group. Nerve fibers, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and nerve growth factor were analyzed using two-dimensional immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.Results: A significant increase in dermal and epidermal nerve fiber densities and in substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and nerve growth factor expression was seen in vacuum-assisted closure treated wounds. Cyclical treatment mode correlated with the largest increase in granulation tissue production, wound surface microdeformations, and a slightly faster wound closure rate.Conclusions: This study suggests that vacuum-assisted closure therapy can modulate nerve fiber and neuropeptide production in the wound. Optimized kinetics of vacuum-assisted closure application may provide an opportunity for clinicians to further improve wound healing in denervated wounds such as pressure sores and diabetic foot ulcerations. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 126: 87, 2010.)