Resveratrol inhibits postoperative adhesion formation in a rat uterine horn adhesion model

Adhesion formation is one of the most important problems occuring after pelvic surgery in the majority of women. The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of the antioxidant resveratrol (3,5,4'-o-trihydroxystilbene) on adhesion formation in a rat uterine horn adhesion model.

Thirty Wistar-Albino female rats were randomly divided into three groups with equal numbers. In Group A, 5.9 mg/kg/day resveratrol was applied by the orogastric route for 10 days before and 20 days after surgery. In Group B, resveratrol was given only for 20 days after surgery. In the control group, no drug was applied before or after surgery. A uterine serosal injury was created using a standard technique after laparotomy in all rats. All animals were sacrificed 3 weeks after surgery and intrapelvic adhesions determined macroscopically and microscopically.

Adhesion formation, total adhesion score and the severity of adhesions were all significantly lower in both resveratrol treatment groups than in the control group (p < 0.05). Notably, the severity of adhesions was much less in Group A in which the rats received resveratrol before and after surgical operation.

This study suggests that 5 ± 1 mg/kg/day perioperative resveratrol administration is an effective strategy for the prevention of postoperative peritoneal adhesion formation after pelvic surgery in a rat model.