Abstract
This study was designed to assess the healing effects of ascorbic acid on full-thickness skin wound in dogs. Four $2.5\pm2.5cm$ full-thickness skin wounds were created bilaterally on the dorsolateral aspect in each of 5 dogs. The ten wounds were treated with ascorbic acid solution in the experimental group, and the ten wounds were treated with $0.9\%$ saline in the control group. The wound healing area was measured every other day for 3 weeks after the wounding. Statistical analysis was conducted with the paired t-test. On the $1^{st},\;3^{rd},\;5^{th},\; 7^{th},\;9^{th},\;11^{th},\;13^{th},\;15^{th},\;17^{th},\;19^{th},\;21^{st}days$, the wound healing rates were $12.6\pm9.6\%,\;9.5\pm9.8\%,\;18.9\pm9.0\%,\;39.2\pm5.4\%,\;62.2\pm4.6\%,\;86.9\pm1.9\%,\;92.9\pm1.8\%,\;96.6\pm1.6\%,\;99.1\pm0.5\%,\;99.8\pm0.2\%,\;99.9\pm0.1\%$ in the experimental group, and $9.1\pm6.0\%,\;9.2\pm6.0\%,\;12.2\pm5.0\%,\;41.3 \pm6.3\%,\;54.2\pm9.2\%,\;81.0\pm2.6\%,\;85.7\pm2.8\%,\;92.3\pm1.5\%,\;96.1\pm0.7\%,\;98.0\pm0.8\%,\;99.5\pm0.2\%$ in the control group On the $15^{th}$ day, the wound closed above $99\%$ in 2 dogs of the experimental group. On the $17^{th}$ day, the wound closed above $99\%$ in 3 dogs of the experimental group. On the $19^{th}$ day, the wound closed above $99\%$ in 5 dogs of the experimental group, and 2 dogs of the control group. On the $21^{st}$ day, the wound closed above $99\%$ in 5 dogs of the experimental group, and 4 dogs of the control group. The wound healing rate of the experimental group was $2\~4$ days faster than that of the control group. The tensile strength was $4,169\pm1,107g/cm^2$ in the experimental group, and $2,438\pm637g/cm^2$ in the countrol group on the$21^{st}$ day after wounding. Tensile strength was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (p<0.05). The histopathological findings of the experimental group were similar to those of the control group on the $1^{st},\;3^{rd}\;and\;5^{th}$days. Inflammation and revascularization of the experimental group were similar to those of the control group on the $9^{th},\;13^{th}\;and\;21^{st}$days. The formation of collagen and reepithelialization were more developed the experimental group than in the control group on the $9^{th},\;13^{th}\;and\;21^{st}$days. Significantly higher wound healing rate, tensile strength and better histopathological findings were observed in the experimental group than in the control group. These results suggest that the topical application of ascorbic acid on full-thickness skin wounds can promote wound healing process.
