| OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the histologic and clinical effects of
fluoxetine administration on wound healing in chronically stressed
and nonstressed Wistar rats.
STUDY DESIGN: Full-thickness incisional wounds were created on
the lower back of 72 female Wistar rats. Animals were divided into
2 stress and nonstress groups according to application of stress
regimen and 3 subdivisions based on placebo, acute, or chronic
administration of fluoxetine. Wound length, width, and linear
healing rate based on wound area were measured for 2 weeks
postwounding. Biopsies of 3 rats from each group were taken at
days 1, 4, 7, and 14 to perform histomorphometric measurements
by light microscopy. Analysis of covariance and analysis of
variance were used to analyze wound length and other variables,
respectively.
RESULTS: Fluoxetine treatment significantly reduced mean wound
length and healing period (P < .01). Although stress decreased the
linear healing rate by 48%, fluoxetine treatment increased it by
68% and 31% in stressed and nonstressed rats, respectively.
Stress significantly diminished infiltration of neutrophils and
monocytes (P < .01), disrupted spatial organization of fibroblasts,
and delayed neovascularization. Fluoxetine precluded these
effects successfully.
CONCLUSION: Fluoxetine significantly improves healing of
cutaneous wounds in stressed and, to a lesser extent, in
nonstressed animals. |