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Updated: May 2, 2026
A Translational Surgical Porcine Model for Postoperative Intra-Abdominal Adhesion Formation
Published on: March 13, 2026
Lipoic acid decreases peritoneal adhesion formation in a rat uterine scar model
Serap Cilaker Mıcılı1, Aslı Göker2, Oya Sayın3
1Department of Histology and Embryology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
Objective:
To investigate the effects of lipoic acid in the prevention of postoperative pelvic adhesions by a visual scoring system and immunohistochemistry in a rat uterine horn model with full thickness injury.
Material And Methods:
Twenty-eight female Wistar albino rats were randomised into four groups: uterine trauma control, 15 days and 30 days, and uterine trauma + lipoic acid, 15 days and 30 days. A full thickness defect was established by incising a segment of approximately 1.0 cm in length from each uterine horn, leaving the mesometrium intact. Extension and severity of the adhesions in each group were scored by a visual scoring system and evaluated immunohistochemically.
Results:
Adhesion scores were 2.00±0.81, 2.14±0.69 0.71±0.75, and 0.85±0.69 for extent and 2.28±0.48, 2.14±0.69, 0.85±0.69, and 1.14±0.69 for severity in Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Adhesion extent and severity were significantly less for groups treated by lipoic acid but no difference was observed between long and short administration. Both Vitronectin and u-PAR staining were significantly increased in treatment groups when compared to the control group.
Conclusion:
Lipoic acid was found to be effective in reducing postoperative adhesion formation in a rat model.
