Effects of Chlorhexidine on the Structure and Permeability of Hamster Cheek Pouch Mucosa

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Abstract
This study examined the effects of Chlorhexidine (CHD) on the clinical appearance, morphology, and in vitro permeability of hamster cheek pouch mucosa. The cheek pouches were treated daily for 3 weeks with topical applications of saline, 0.2% CHD, or 2.0% CHD. Treatment with 2.0% CHD resulted in the formation of discrete white lesions in every animal in the group, whereas no changes were identified in any animal treated with 0.2% CHD or saline. Upon microscopic examination it was determined that treatment with 2.0% CHD resulted in a statistically significant (P < 0.01) increase in epithelial thickness, when compared to the other groups, and the lesions were found to consist of hyperplastic areas of epithelium with associated inflammatory cell accumulations. Daily treatments with 2.0% CHD, 0.2% CHD or saline had no effect on the very low permeability of cheek pouch mucosa to 14C‐CHD. However, treatment with 2.0% CHD resulted in decreased permeability to 3H20 (P < 0.05) when compared to the other groups. Treatment with 2.0% CHD also resulted in a thickened permeability barrier (P < 0.01), as determined using a tracer, horseradish peroxidase. It is concluded that topical applications of 0.2% CHD have no detectable effect on cheek‐pouch mucosa while applications of 2.0% CHD result in hyperplasia and a decrease in mucosal permeability. Our results suggest that CHD should be used with caution clinically and at a concentration of 0.2% or less.
Funding Information
  • National Institutes of Health (#5 R01 5513‐20)