Influence of protein malnutrition on cutaneous wound healing in rats

Impacto da desnutrição proteica na cicatrização de feridas cutâneas em ratos

ABSTRACT

Objective

Investigate histological changes related to inflammatory response and collagen expression during wound healing in rats with protein malnutrition.

Methods

Twenty male Wistar rats underwent cutaneous surgery and were divided into two experimental groups: Malnourished (8% casein diet); Nourished (17% casein diet). Animals were euthanized after 5^th and 10^th days, descriptive and quantitative analyses were performed on sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin and sirius red, respectively. Statistical analysis of data using nonparametric Fisher's exact test with p<0.05 was carried out.

Results

At five days, increased fibroblast proliferation (p<0.01) and collagen expression (p<0.05) was observed in N5 group. After ten days, N10 and MN10 animals showed higher amount of granulation tissue and edema/inflammatory infiltrate independent of nutritional status (p>0.05), only N10 group showed fibroblast proliferation (p<0.01) and increased collagen expression (p<0.01).

Conclusion

Protein malnutrition seems not to influence inflammatory phase of healing, whereas it negatively effects fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis.

Keywords
Collagen; Malnutrition; Protein malnutrition; Wound healing