Effect of polaprezinc on heating of acetic acid-induced stomatitis in hamsters

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to investigate the potential effectiv eness of polaprezinc in the treatment of stomatitis. Its effect on oral muc ous membrane lesions was studied focusing on acetic acid-induced stomatitis in an animal model. Method: Stomatitis was induced in hamsters try local i njection of 30 mu L of 10% acetic acid solution into both cheek pouches. Ch ange of the size of the acetic acid-induced white lesion caused by polaprez inc injection was compared with that of control (water injection). The proc ess of healing of damaged membrane was also investigated histopathologicall y. Selective adhesion of polaprezinc on mucous membrane was studied using c olor development by complexation between zinc and dithizone. Results: On da y 4 after acetic acid injection, round white lesions were observed in the c entral area of both pouches. Observation on days 7, 10, and 14 showed that the size of the lesions decreased with time. Comparison with the control gr oup of animals, in which healing took place naturally, showed that daily ad ministration of polaprezinc (10 mg/kg) applied to the cheek pouches signifi cantly promoted healing of the lesion from day 7 onward. Histopathological investigation of-the mucous membrane in the cheek pouches 7 days after the induction of stomatitis by acetic acid injection showed thickening, and cel l damage was evident. In the group of animals treated-with polaprezinc, the thickening of the mucous membrane was less than that in animals of the gro up receiving no treatment and regeneration of damaged tissue was observed a fter 6 days of polaprezinc treatment. Conclusion: Polaprezinc is an effecti ve treatment in this animal model of acetic acid-induced stomatitis. This s uggests-that the drug may be useful in promoting healing of stomatitis in t he clinical setting. Extrapolating these to humans suggests that the drug h as healing effect to severe stomatitis induced by anticancer drug therapy.