RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Wound contraction and scar formation in the palatal mucoperiosteum after cleft palate surgery impair maxillary growth. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of IFN-beta on palatal mucoperiosteal wound healing in growing rats. METHODS: Standardized wounds were made in the palatal mucoperiosteum of young rats. Either IFN-beta or vehicle were injected at the wound site between 4 and 29 days after wounding. The results were compared with control wounds. Tissue samples were collected at 8, 15, 30, and 60 days PW for biochemical and microscopic analysis. RESULTS: IFN-beta stimulated re-epithelialization but did not reduce the number of myofibroblasts or scar tissue formation. Surprisingly, the injection of vehicle alone delayed the healing process. CONCLUSION: IFN-beta might be suitable to stimulate re-epithelialization but it does not reduce scar tissue formation in rat palatal wound healing. The injection of agents into palatal wounds might severely impair the healing process.
