Effect of ascorbic Acid on incisional wound healing in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract: Background. Abdominal wall repair after celiotomy is important because insufficient incisional wound strength results in wound failures such as fascial dehiscence and herniation. Ascorbic acid has been shown to play an important role in wound healing. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether ascorbic acid improves incisional wound healing in a diabetic rat.

Male Wistar-Albino streptozosin-induced diabetic rats (n = 20) were divided into two groups: control group (CG; n = 10), and daily 200 mg/kg ascorbic acid (study group, [SG], n = 10) given orally. Ten animals from each group were euthanized on postoperative day (POD) 14 after wounding; breaking strength, histologic examination, and tissue hydroxyproline levels were analyzed.

The hydroxyproline tissue content of the abdominal fascia in the ascorbic acid treatment group was superior to the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The tensiometric analyses revealed that tensile strength for the midline incision was significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Significant differences were found in the results of histologic examination of tissue specimens between the two groups regarding acute inflammation, chronic inflammation, granulation tissue fibroblast maturation, collagen deposition, and neovascularization on POD 14 (P < 0.05).

The present study demonstrates that administration of ascorbic acid prior to laparotomy expedites wound healing in a rat. On the contrary, we suggest that it could confer benefits to tissue healing by significantly enhancing tissue hydroxyproline levels, neovascularization, fibroblast maturation, and collagen deposition.