Objective:To study the effect of dressing with insulin on the expression of HIF-1αand VEGF in deepⅡ degree burn wound healing of diabetic rats and explore the possible mechanisms. Methods:42 rats

either male or female

were established models of deepⅡ burn wounds with diabetes

which was induced by streptozotocin (STZ). They were completely randomly divided into two groups

that is the insulin group and the control group. Dressing changes with insulin and saline dressings twice daily

respectively. Full-thickness tissues of the wounds were collected respectively in the 1st

2nd and 3rd weeks after the treatment. The expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1αmRNA (HIF-1αmRNA)was detected with RT-PCR;and the positive staining of HIF-1αand VEGF and microvessel density in the wound healing were determined with IHC. Results:Compared with the control

the healing rate was obviously increased

the expression of HIF-1αmRNA and the positive expression of HIF-1αwere significantly decreased (P<0.05)

while

the expression of VEGF were obviously strengthened (P<0.05)in the insulin group after 1w

2w

3w. And

the microvessel density was significantly higher in the insulin group than that in the control. Conclusion:Dressing change with insulin can promote the wound healing in diabetic rats through down-regulating the expression of HIF-1α

up-regulating the expression of VEGF in the wound

thereby inducing the growth of blood vessels of wound

and improving the blood supply.