Estrogen Accelerates Wound Angiogenesis in Rats

Angiogenesis is a complex program of several steps and it is tightly regulated by pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. Angiogenesis is one of the key elements in cutaneous wound healing and skin cancers. Estrogen seems to have positive modulating effect on cutaneous wound healing and this effect may be explained by its angiogenic properties. This study aims to investigate the effect of estrogen on cutaneous wound angiogenesis in rats through histological criteria. This was an experimental study which was carried out at Esfahan University of Medical Sciences in August 2007. Forty rats were randomly allocated into two groups and an experimental wound was induced in their skin. Wounds in the case group were treated with daily topical estrogen and gentamicin, while the controls received only topical gentamicin. After 14 days of treatment, biopsies were obtained. Evaluation of wounds through a validated histological scoring system revealed significant difference between control and treated mice. The latter exhibited increased microvasculature and significantly higher scores of angiogenesis. Our study suggests that topical estrogen is able to increase cutaneous wound angiogenesis considering objective histological criteria.