The relationship between neutrophils and incisional wound healing

The systemic administration of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating fa ctor (GMCSF) is used clinically to increase circulating neutrophils, but it s wound healing effects after intraperitoneal treatment have not been studi ed yet. We planned to investigate the effect of neutrophils on wound healin g under cyclophosphamide and GM-CSF treatment. Forty rats were divided into three groups: control group (group I, n = 12) receiving saline, group II ( n = 14) receiving cyclophosphamide and group III (n = 14) receiving GM-CSF. The rats in all groups underwent incisional wounding and were euthanized a fter 7 days. Blood neutrophil counts and functions, tensile strengths and t he hydroxyproline level of skin were determined, and a histopathological ev aluation of healing was made. Neutrophil counts and phagocytosis significan tly increased in group III and decreased in group II. Although the skin hyd roxyproline level did not differ, there was a difference in tensile strengt h of the wounded skin between group II and group III. The wound score in gr oup II was lower than that in groups III and I. As a result we suggest that systemically given GM-CSF - by increasing the neutrophil count and neutrop hil phagocytosis index - can enhance the tensile strength of surgical incis ions. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.