Effects of Rat's Licking Behavior on Cutaneous Wound Healing

Objective(s)Wound licking has been shown to advance wound healing among humans and many other animals. The present study evaluates the licking effects on healing of skin wound in rats. Materials and MethodsTwenty four rats were assigned to 4 different groups randomly and two 3 cm longitudinal full thickness incisions were made on each dorsal and ventral side of rats. The ventral incisions were considered as treated wounds because of contact to saliva as rats lick them easily and dorsal incisions as control wounds. Clinical changes and histopathological effects of rat saliva on wound healing were evaluated every day and on 3, 7, 14 and 21 days post-operation respectively. ResultsHistologic and clinical evaluation of treated wounds showed better healing than control wounds. ConclusionThis study showed that licking behavior can promote wound healing. Thus salivary compounds could be isolated, be mass produced and may have potential to become as common as antibiotic cream.