Evaluation of the early term healing effects of resveratrol on corneal wounds in rats

Authors: HATİCE ÇİLEM PERÇİN, ZÜLFÜKAR KADİR SARITAŞ

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of resveratrol (RES) treatment on corneal wound healing. Randomly divided into 2 groups were 26-week-old male Wistar albino rats. Group 1 was the control group (C) and group 2 was the RES group. A 2-3-mm-long vertical incision was made centrally in the right cornea of each rat to the descemet membrane using loupe magnification (2.5X) and the wounds were sutured using 10/0 nylon material. In the RES group, the rats were fed 30 mg/kg/day RES via oral gavage; the C and RES groups were provided food and water ad libitum for only 11 days. The matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), nitric oxide, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and antioxidant status (AOS) were measured. On day 11, the rats were euthanized and examined histologically. The score of 3 for connective tissue proliferation, in both the C and RES groups, indicated rates of 11.1% and 0.0%, respectively (P < 0.05). The score of 3 for inflammatory cell reaction, in both the C and RES groups, indicated rates of 11.1% and 0.0%, respectively (P < 0.05). The MDA results were as follows: days 0 and 11, 1.61 ± 0.316 and 2.854 ± 0.572 for the C and RES groups, respectively. The increase in group C was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The MMP-9 level was 1.115 ± 0.197 and 2.842 ± 0.368, respectively, in the 2 groups. The increase in the RES group was statistically significant (P < 0.01). According to the AOS, the intergroup difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). As a result, RES inhibited vascularization of the corneal wound and retained the transparency of the corneal tissue. It is therefore suggested that extended studies and follow-up times are needed to better evaluate the outcomes of RES on the healing corneal wounds.

Keywords: Rat, resveratrol, corneal wound, MMP-9

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