Influence of Leukotriene Inhibitor Montelukast on Wound Contraction and Cutaneous Healing Process in Rats

Background  Wound contractures can cause severe deformities and disabilities. Recent studies have suggested that leukotriene receptor antagonists have an inhibitory effect on the healing contraction process. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the leukotriene inhibitor montelukast on the cutaneous healing process and the wound contraction phenomenon in rats. Methods  For this study, 60 male rats were randomly divided into four groups (MK-7d, SF-7d, MK-14d, and SF-14d) according to the drug given through a rigid orogastric tube (MK group: montelukast 10 mg/kg/day; SF group: normal saline solution) and the day the animals were killed (7d: postoperative day 7; 14d: postoperative day 14). An excisional wound (2 × 2 cm) was created on the dorsum of each rat. The wounds were left open to heal spontaneously and documented by standard digital photographs on different postoperative days. Wound contraction rates were calculated with specific software, and specimens were histologically evaluated using picrosirius red stain. Results were analyzed using the Aspin-Welch, Mann–Whitney, and t tests, assuming a significance level of 5%. Results  The wound contraction rates were similar between the control and study groups (p > 0.05). On postoperative day 7, the wounds showed a marginally significant reduction in collagen maturation in the study group (40.1% ± 6.88% vs 61.2% ± 8.02%; p = 0.0607). On postoperative day 14, this reduction was statistically significant in the MK group (26% ± 5.66% vs 68.3% ± 7.76%; p = 0.0001). Conclusions  Montelukast does not alter the contraction rate of excisional wounds in rats but has a significant and progressive inhibitory effect on collagen maturation. This study was developed by the Post-Graduate Program in Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit of Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.