Streptozotocin and alloxan are comparable agents in the diabetic model of impaired wound healing.

This study compares the drugs Streptozotocin (STZ) and Alloxan (ALN) in the diabetic wound healing model to determine the effect of their diverse immunologic and metabolic activity upon wound collagen and collagenase. Levels of hydroxyproline (as a measure of collagen) and collagenase were determined in polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) wound cylinders harvested from STZ and ALN-diabetic rats and nondiabetic controls on post-operative days 5, 10 and 20. Animals treated with STZ and ALN had significantly less hydroxyproline on day 5 compared to control rats (p < 0.05). However, no difference was noted on days 10 and 20 between these two agents and controls, or between STZ and ALN at any time in the experiment. Despite their markedly dissimilar side effects, we conclude that either drug is appropriate in the diabetic wound healing when determining wound collagen and collagenase activity in this setting.