EFFECT OF PROBIOTIC ORAL ADMINISTRATION ON SKIN WOUND HEALING IN RATS

BACKGROUND: Manipulating intestinal microbiota with probiotics might stimulate skin response. Understanding all stages of the healing process, as well as the gut-skin-healing response can improve the skin healing process. AIM: To evaluate the effect of perioperative oral administration of probiotics on the healing of skin wounds in rats. METHODS: Seventy-two Wistar male adult rats were weighed and divided into two groups with 36 each, one control group (supplemented with oral maltodextrin 250 mg/day) and one probiotic group (supplemented with Lactobacillus paracasei LPC-37, Bifidobacterium lactis HN0019, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM(®) at a dose of 250 mg/day), both given orally daily for 15 days. The two groups were subsequently divided into three subgroups according to the moment of euthanasia: in the 3(rd), 7(th) and 10(th) postoperative days. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in weight in both groups. Wound contraction was faster in probiotic group when compared to the controls, resulting in smaller wound area in the 7(th) postoperative day. As for histological aspects, the overall H&E score was lower in the probiotic group. The probiotic group showed increased fibrosis from 3(rd) to the 7(th) postoperative day. The type I collagen production was higher in the probiotic group at the 10(th) postoperative day, and the type III collagen increased in the 7(th). CONCLUSION: The perioperative use of orally administrated probiotic was associated with a faster reduction of the wound area in rats probably by reducing the inflammatory phase, accelerating the fibrosis process and the deposition of collagen.