Action of ascorbic acid on the healing of malnourished rats'skin wounds

Objective: To evaluate the action of ascorbic acid on the healing of malnourished rats' cutaneous wounds compared with normal weight rats. Methods: We used 92 adult, male Wistar rats divided into four groups: 24 normal weight rats given only water and chow; 24 normal weight rats given vitamin C by gavage (340 mg/kg 12/12 hours); 22 malnourished rats given only water and chow; and 22 malnourished rats given vitamin C by gavage (340 mg/kg 12/12 hours). Malnutrition was induced by feeding the animals half of their daily energy requirement for 30 days. Two incisions were made, one sutured (healing by primary intention) and one left unsutured (healing by secondary intention). The rats were euthanized on the third, seventh, and fourteenth days of the experiment. Results: The following parameters differed significantly between the groups (p>0.05): granulation of the wound edge in the primary and secondary intention; extent of injuries on day 7 for primary intention and on day 3 for secondary intention; reepithelialization on day 7 for primary intention; fibrin-leukocyte scab on day 14 for primary intention; amount of neovascularization and concentration of macrophages, fibroblasts, and collagen fibers for primary and secondary intention. Conclusion: The use of vitamin C in malnourished and normal weight rats increases fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition in the tissue, which helps to improve healing both by primary and secondary intention. Objetivo: Avaliar a ação do ácido ascórbico na cicatrização de feridas cutâneas de ratos desnutridos e de eutróficos. Métodos: Utilizaram-se 92 ratos Wistar, adultos, machos, divididos em quatro grupos: 24 ratos eutróficos que receberam somente água e ração; 24 ratos eutróficos que receberam vitamina C por gavagem (340 mg/kg de 12/12 horas); 22 ratos desnutridos que receberam somente água e ração; 22 ratos desnutridos que receberam vitamina C por gavagem (340 mg/kg de 12/12 horas). A desnutrição foi realizada fornecendo-se aos animais metade da ração diária durante 30 dias. Realizaram-se duas incisões, uma suturada (cicatrização por 1ª intenção) e outra não suturada (cicatrização por 2ª intenção). Os ratos foram sacrificados no 3º (D3), 7º (D7) e 14º (D14) dia do experimento. Resultados: Observou-se diferença estatística (p