The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of growth hormone in the skin healing repair . Fifty male rats, with a mean age of 170 days were allocated in 2 groups of 25 animals: the control and experimental groups . Under ether anesthesia, all the animals underwent to a 4 cm abdominal midline incision . The laparotomy was sutured in 2 layers ( first layer- peritoneum, muscle and aponeurosis and second layer- skin) with uninterrupted 4-0 nylon suture. A dosage of 0.4U/Kg/day of growth hormone, diluted in 0.12 ml of distilled water was given subcutaneously to the animals of the experimental group and the animals of the control group received the same amount of distilled water only. Samples of abdominal wall scar were taken 36, 72, 168, 240 and 336 hours after the initial procedure. The collagen concentration was evaluated after histological preparation with Red-Sirius dye. The percentage of the area of the wound occupied by collagen was greater in the experimental group at 36 hours (p=0.0106), 72 hours (p=0.0089), 168 hours (p=0.0149) and 336 hours (p=0.0116). The percentage of collagen I was similar in both groups at 36 and 72 hours and greater in the experimental group at 168 hours (p=0.0218), 240 hours (p=0.0067) and 336 hours (p=0.0027). The percentage of collagen III was similar in both groups at 36 and 72 hours and it was greater at 168 hours (p=0.0216), 240 hours (p=0.0067) and 336 hours (p=0.0027). We can conclude that growth hormone induced greater collagen deposition and maturation in the wound.
Wound healing; Growth hormone
