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Updated: May 1, 2026
Creation of Abdominal Adhesions in Mice
Published on: August 27, 2016
The effect of vitamin A and vitamin C on postoperative adhesion formation: A rat model study
Behrouz Keleidari1, Mohsen Mahmoudieh1, Faranak Bahrami1
1Department of Surgery, Faculty Member of General Surgery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Background:
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of vitamin A and C, as the agents that improve wound healing, on the adhesion formation process.
Materials And Methods:
Sixty male Wistar rats were used. They underwent midline laparotomy, for repair of a peritoneal injury, and were then assigned to four groups. Group 1 (Vitamin A) received 2000 units/kg intramuscular injection of vitamin A daily, post surgery, for two weeks; Group 2 (Vitamin C) received 100 mg/kg oral vitamin C daily, after laparotomy, for two weeks; Group 3 (vitamins A and C) received 2000 units/kg intramuscular injection of vitamin A and 100 mg/kg oral vitamin C daily, after laparotomy, for two weeks, and Group four (Sham) rats did not receive any drugs. The adhesion, inflammation, fibrosis scores, and wound integrity were evaluated after two weeks.
Results:
Rats in the vitamin C group had the lowest mean adhesion formation score (1 ± 0.27) and the values of p were < 0.0001 for the vitamin A group and vitamin A and C groups and 0.003 for the sham group. Vitamin C also had the lowest fibrosis score (0.50 ± 0.17) among the study groups and the values of p were < 0.0001 for the vitamin A group and vitamin A and C groups and 0.002 for the sham group. The mean inflammation score did not differ significantly among the study groups. The wound disruption strength was the highest in the vitamin C group and the difference was statistically significant in the sham group (1188.69 ± 281.92 vs. 893.04 ± 187.46, p : 0.003).
Conclusion:
Administration of oral vitamin C reduces adhesion formation and improves wound healing.
