Histological assessment of the effect of laser irradiation on skin wound healing in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate, from the histological point of view, the effect of diode laser irradiation on skin wound healing in Sprague-Dawley rats.


BACKGROUND
Various biological effects have been described in different studies after low-level laser therapy (LLLT).


METHODS
Two parallel full-thickness skin incisions were performed on the back of each rat (n = 49) and immediately sutured. After surgery, one wound of each rat was exposed to laser irradiation (continuous mode, 670 nm, daily dose 30 J/cm2), whereas the parallel wound was not irradiated and served as control. Both wounds were removed 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, and 168 h after surgery and routinely fixed and embedded in paraffin sections, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, van Gieson, periodic acid Schiff + periodic acid Schiff diastase, Mallory's phosphotungstic hematoxylin, and azur and eosin, and histopathologically evaluated.


RESULTS
As compared to nonirradiated control wounds, laser stimulation shortened the inflammatory phase as well as accelerated the proliferative and maturation phase, and positively stimulated the regeneration of injured epidermis and the reparation of injured striated muscle.


CONCLUSIONS
LLLT at 670 nm positively influences all phases of rat skin wound healing.
Gál
Peter
P
Department of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef safárik University in Ko[scaron]ice, Kosice, Slovak Republic. galovci@yahoo.com
Vidinský
Boris
B
Toporcer
Tomás
T
Mokrý
Michal
M
Mozes
Stefan
S
Longauer
Frantisek
F
Sabo
Ján
J
D000818:Animals; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*