The effects of resveratrol on tendon healing of diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of resveratrol on the tendon healing process of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: The study included 16 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Streptozotocin was administered to induce diabetes and bilateral tenorrhaphy of the Achilles tendons was performed. Intraperitoneal resveratrol was injected in the experimental group (n=8) and saline in the control group (n=8) during the postoperative period. Rats were sacrificed at the 14th day. Right side tendons were evaluated biomechanically and left side tendons histologically. RESULTS: Difference in mean tendon tensile strength was not statistically significant between groups (p>0.05). Histologic evaluations of the repair zones showed greater configuration of the newly synthesized collagen in the experimental group. The ratio of the newly synthesized collagen area to the healing region area was significantly higher in the experimental group then the control group (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Resveratrol appears to have a positive impact on the process of tendon healing in diabetic conditions in the first 14 days.

The effects of resveratrol on flap survival in diabetic rats.

Resveratrol is an antioxidant agent with multiple positive impacts on the body. It is known to have anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and neuroprotective effects. The goal of this study is to demonstrate the antioxidant and anti-diabetic effects of resveratrol on flap survival in diabetic rats. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley albino rats were treated with 10 mg/kg resveratrol following a flap surgery. Histological findings regarding polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) density, vascular proliferation, fibroblast density, and tissue necrosis were compared between resveratrol-treated and control rats. Significantly higher PMNL density was found in the control group (p = 0.005); while vascular proliferation and the fibroblast density were higher in the resveratrol group (p = 0.004 and p = 0.021, respectively). Collagen density was also higher in the resveratrol group and the difference has statistical significance (p = 0.024). Lymphocyte density was not significantly different between groups (p = 0.061). When the necrosis in the distal areas was evaluated histologically, 20% of the resveratrol group had epidermal tissue necrosis, thus 90% of the control group had epidermal or full-layer necrosis. Resveratrol improved flap survival significantly in diabetic rats. Therefore, diabetic patients requiring complex reconstructive procedures may benefit from resveratrol; so, clinical trials are required to support this study.