Objective: The present study compared the effects of gallium-aluminum-arsenide diode laser and healing oil on fibroblasts, blood vessels, and collagen maturation of skin wounds in Wistar rats.
Materials and methods: Twenty-four male rats weighing 325 ± 27 g were used. Five wounds, 12 mm in diameter, were made on the animals' backs. The rats were randomly divided into four groups with six animals in each group.
Control group: saline solution; L30 group: 30 J/cm(2) laser; L60 group: 60 J/cm(2) laser; Oil group: healing oil. Histomorphometric analysis was performed on the scar tissue removed from the different wounds every 4 d for 20 d.
Results: On day 4, there were significantly more fibroblasts in the wounds treated with the laser and the healing oil compared to the controls. On day 8, there were significantly more fibroblasts in the oil group compared to the L30 and L60 groups. On the same day, the quantity of vessels was significantly greater in the L60 group compared to the other groups. On day 16, there was a significant increase in the number of blood vessels in the wounds treated with the 60 J/cm(2) laser compared to the other groups. Analysis of the collagen maturation index throughout the experiment showed significantly higher values in the L60 group compared to the other groups at all time points.
Conclusion: The healing oil exerted a greater effect on fibroblast proliferation, whereas the 60 J/cm(2) laser was more effective in stimulating angiogenesis and scar-tissue maturation.