OBJECTIVE: To study the inflammatory reaction and deposition of collagen in the healing of cutaneous injuries under the influence of nicotine. METHODS: The scars of abdominal injuries in rats were analyzed, which had been treated with nicotine, 2 mg/kg/d, and compared with those of control rats. Treatment was begun seven days prior to operation and was maintained for seven or fourteen days after surgery. The histological cuts were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and through the established scores the intensity and type of inflammatory reaction was identified. Histological cuts stained by Sirius Supra red F3BA enabled the identification of the collagen density. RESULTS: There was no difference in intensity of the inflammatory reaction after seven days (p=0.165), nor after fourteen days (p=0.684). There was no significant difference in the type I collagen density in the evaluation carried out after seven days (p=0.912) and after fourteen days (p=0,211). The control group had more type III collagen after seven days (p=0.004), but after fourteen days there was no significant difference (p=0.720). Although the total quantification of collagen was higher in the control group, there was no significant difference at any time during this study (p=0.103 after seven days and p=0.549 after fourteen days). CONCLUSION: In the scars of the animals treated with nicotine in comparison with the control group, there was no difference in the intensity of the inflammatory process, nor in collagen density.
Wound Healing; Collagen; Nicotine; Tobacco
