title: Essential fatty acids are not required for wound healing.
abstract: Rats with essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) exhibit mild body growth retardation, diminished leukocyte influx in certain models of inflammation, and skin lesions characterized by ulceration, thinning and decreased pigmentation. In the present study we examined the role of EFAD in cutaneous wound healing, a process in which the inflammatory response and the macrophage play a central role. We reproduced the EFAD condition in Lewis rats (n = 35), and examined its effects in wound healing using the paired rat surgical incision model. Rats were compared with weight-matched controls, receiving standard chow diet. Skin samples harvested at days 5, 7, 14 and 21 post-wounding were evaluated for tensiometry and histology. EFAD rats exhibited all the characteristics of this condition, and the typical alteration of liver lipids. Skin samples harvested at different days post-wounding did not show difference in maximal breaking strength when compared to weight-matched controls. Histological evaluation of skin samples showed no difference in the cellular inflammatory infiltration in either EFAD rats or in weight-matched controls. Immunohistochemical studies revealed no difference in the influx of macrophages in the different groups of rats. Fatty acid supplementation of EFAD rats (n = 7), successfully reversed the EFAD state as assessed by the macroscopic skin and liver changes and liver fatty acid content, without modifying either tensile strength or cellular inflammatory infiltration. Our results suggest that EFAD does not alter the normal course of the cutaneous wound repair in rats, despite all the cutaneous alterations produced by this condition. We conclude that essential fatty acids (EFAs) are not essential for cutaneous wound repair.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Porras-Reyes
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Schreiner
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lefkowith
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mustoe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D019787:Linoleic Acid