Modulation of Radiation-Induced Delay in the Wound Healing by Ascorbic Acid in Mice Exposed to Different Doses of Hemi-Body Gamma Radiation

Hemi-body irradiation in multiple fractionated doses is frequently used alone or in combination with surgery for the treatment of cancer. It produces both acute and late effects on the skin that have profound effects on surgical wounds. Because of the crucial practical importance of radiation exposure associated with skin wounds, it is imperative to investigate the efficacy of cost-effective nutritional factors in the reconstruction of irradiated wounds. Therefore, the effect of ascorbic acid treatment was studied on the healing of excision wounds in mice exposed to 2, 4, 6, or 8 Gy hemi-body gamma radiation. A full-thickness skin wound was created on the dorsum of 8- to 10-week-old Swiss albino mice after hemi-body exposure to 2, 4, 6, or 8 Gy. The progression of wound contraction was monitored periodically by capturing video images of wounds. Collagen, hexosamine, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), nitric oxide (NO), and histological profiles of excision wounds were also evaluated and either treated or not treated with ascorbic acid before exposure to 0 or 6 Gy. Irradiation caused a dose-dependent delay in wound contraction and wound healing time, while ascorbic acid pretreatment resulted in a significant elevation in the rate of wound contraction and a decrease in mean wound healing time. Treatment with ascorbic acid before irradiation enhanced the synthesis of collagen, hexosamine, DNA, and NO, while histological assessment revealed an improved collagen deposition and an increase in fibroblast and vascular densities. The present study demonstrates that ascorbic acid pretreatment has a beneficial effect on irradiated wounds and could be part of a strategy to ameliorate radiation-induced delay in wound repair.