Aminoguanidine prevents impaired healing and deficient angiogenesis in diabetic rats

The diabetic organism is unable to produce normal amount of granulation tis sue which results in delayed wound healing, a significant clinical problem. In the present study, the effect of oral administration of aminoguanidine (AG), in the diabetes-induced inhibition of angiogenesis and granulation ti ssue formation was tested. Subcutaneous implantation of sponge discs in non diabetic rats induced a wound repair response as determined by the amount o f hemoglobin (vascular index) and granulation tissue formation (morphometri c analysis) of the implants. In the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats th e predominant response indicative of healing was inhibitory. Aminoguanidine was effective in preventing in 50% the diabetes-induced inhibition of fibr ovascular tissue growth in the implants, as indicated by the values of hemo globin content and vascular growth areas of the implants. These results ind icate that AG holds potential therapeutic value in the management of healin g impairment of the diabetic condition.