Sucrose has no beneficial effects on wound healing in rats

Objective: To evaluate thr: effects of sucrose treatment on the formation o f granulation tissue in a standard wound model. Design: Animal study. Setting: University hospital, Finland. Animals: 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into 4 groups. Interventions: Implantation of viscose cellulose sponge subcutaneously, and daily injection of three concentrations of sucrose (0.01, 0.1 or 1 M) or v ehicle for 7 days. Main outcome measures: The amount of granulation tissue measured by chemica l analysis and histology. The amount and distribution of types I and III co llagen assayed by immunofluorescence. Results: None of the three concentrations altered the amounts of DNA, RNA, hydroxyproline, nitrogen, hexosamines, and uronic acids in granulation tiss ue. Neither improvement nor deterioration was seen in the growth of granula tion tissue in histological specimens. The amount and distribution of types I and III collagen was similar in controls and sucrose-treated rats. Type III collagen was most abundant near newly-formed vessels. Neither sucrose n or fructose was found in wound fluid while the concentration of glucose was significantly lower in all test groups than in controls. Conclusions: Sucrose solution had neither beneficial nor deleterious effect s on the amount of developing granulation tissue in an experimental wound m odel. The amount and distribution of types I and III collagens were also no t altered by sucrose treatment.