Analysis of the effect of topical oestradiol and progesterone in wound healing in rats

Introduction: Studies have shown that oestradiol and progesterone influence wound healing, angiogenesis, and remodeling. Objectives: To evaluate the topical effects of oestradiol and progesterone-isolated and associated-on healing wounds of menopausal rats. Methods: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with the same number of animals: Group C) control group, using only the vehicle; Group E) oestradiol 0.5mg; Group P) 15mg progesterone; Group E+P) 0.5mg oestradiol and 15mg progesterone. Initially the rats underwent bilateral oophorectomy. On the 30th post-operative day, a circular wound 1cm in diameter was inflicted, and the topical applications carried out for 7 days. Biopsies were performed at days 3, 7, and 14, followed by excision of the wound. Biopsies were stained with Sirius-Red (collagen analysis) and Hematoxylin-Eosin (morphometric analysis). The P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Only in Group P there was an acceleration of re-epithelialization observed from the 7th to the 14th day (p = 0.016) and increased fibrosis from the 3rd to the 7th day (p = 0.008). Groups E and E+P, presented inhibited formation of type III collagen in the three study time points (p <0.001). Conclusions: Treatment with topical oestradiol, and topical oestradiol associated with progesterone inhibited the formation of type III collagen. The isolated progesterone only contributed to the process of re-epithelialization of wounds.

Keywords: ESTROGENS; PROGESTERONE; COLLAGEN; WOUND HEALING.