Effects of N-Acetylcysteine and l-Carnitine on Wound Healing of Palatal Mucosa in a Rat Model

Background

Surgical procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery inevitably cause wound formation, making the patient vulnerable to infections as well as discomfort. As antioxidant agents exert great potential to accelerate wound healing, we investigated the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and l-carnitine (LC) on palatal wound healing.

Methods

Sixty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. 5 mm diameter wounds were created in the hard palates of the rats. 150 mg/kg/day NAC, 100 mg/kg/day LC, or both were injected intraperitoneally to the treatment groups until sacrification on Day 5 or 10. Hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's Trichrome staining, and immunohistochemistry (α-SMA, FGF-2) were performed on wound tissues.

Results

On Days 5 and 10, reepithelialization was incomplete and inflammation was observed in all groups. Collagen density tended to increase in the LC and NAC + LC groups on Day 5, and significantly differed between the LC and NAC groups on day 10. A slight elevation in α-SMA expression was observed in the NAC group on Day 5, while NAC + LC treatment significantly reduced α-SMA levels compared to NAC alone. FGF-2 expression showed an increasing trend in the NAC + LC group on Day 5 and in the NAC and LC groups on Day 10. A significant increase in FGF-2 was observed in the NAC + LC group versus the NAC group on Day 5, and within the NAC group between Days 5 and 10.

Conclusion

Our findings have shown that LC in the late stage and NAC + LC combination in the early stage may positively affect palatal wound healing.