The effect of lipoic acid on wound healing in a full thickness uterine injury model in rats

J Mol Histol. 2013 Jun;44(3):339-45. doi: 10.1007/s10735-013-9485-8. Epub 2013 Feb 1.

Abstract

Aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lipoic acid on uterine wound healing by immunohistochemical and biochemical assay in a rat uterine horn model with full thickness injury. Thirty-two female Wistar albino rats were randomised into five groups: Control group, with no intervention; uterine scar group 15days (US15d), uterine scar group 15 days + alpha lipoic acid (ALA) (US15d + ALA), uterine scar group 30 days (US30d) and uterine scar group 30 days + ALA (US30 days + ALA). After uterine incision 100 mg/kg of ALA was administered by oral gavage for either 15 or 30 days. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) distribution were evaluated by immunohistochemical methods in tissue and ELISA methods in tissue homogenate. The percentage of α-SMA positive area in US15d + ALA and US30d + ALA groups was significantly higher than US15 and US30d groups. The percentage of VEGF positive area in US15d + ALA group was significantly higher than US15d group and US30d + ALA group was significantly higher than US30d group. Biochemically, α-SMA was significantly higher in the US15d + ALA group when compared to US15d group and higher in US30d + ALA group when compared to US30d group. VEGF was significantly higher in US15d + ALA and US30d + ALA groups when compared to US15 and US30d groups. In conclusion, ALA was found to be effective in enhancing wound healing in uterine full thickness injury.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cicatrix / drug therapy
  • Cicatrix / metabolism
  • Cicatrix / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Muscle, Smooth / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth / metabolism
  • Muscle, Smooth / physiology
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Regeneration / drug effects*
  • Regeneration / physiology
  • Thioctic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Uterus / drug effects*
  • Uterus / injuries*
  • Uterus / metabolism
  • Uterus / physiology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Wound Healing / drug effects*
  • Wound Healing / physiology

Substances

  • Actins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • smooth muscle actin, rat
  • vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat
  • Thioctic Acid