The influence of low-level laser therapy on biomodulation of collagen and elastic fibers

• Published in: Pesquisa odontológica brasileira Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 307 - 313
• Main Authors: Pugliese, Lívia Souza, Medrado, Alena Peixoto, Reis, Sílvia Regina de Almeida, Andrade, Zilton de Araújo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica e Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo 01-12-2003
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Collagen - biosynthesis; DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Elastic Tissue - metabolism; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Female; Low-Level Light Therapy; Male; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Statistics, Nonparametric; Wound Healing - physiology; Wound Healing - radiation effects; Colágeno; Wound healing; Lasers; Collagen; Cicatrização de feridas; low-level; Terapia a laser de baixa intensidade; Laser therapy
• ISSN: 1517-7491; 1517-7491
• DOI: 10.1590/s1517-74912003000400003

The study of low-level laser therapy upon extracellular matrix elements is important to understand the wound healing process under this agent. However, little is known about the interference of laser light in relation to collagen and elastic fibers. Cutaneous wounds were performed on the back of 72 Wistar rats and a Ga-Al-As low-level laser was punctually applied with different energy densities. The animals were killed after 24, 48, 72 hours and 5, 7 and 14 days. Tissues were stained with hematoxilin-eosin, sirius red fast green and orcein and then analyzed. It was observed that the treated group exhibited larger reduction of edema and inflammatory infiltrate. The treated animals presented a larger expression of collagen and elastic fibers, although without statistical significance (p > 0.05). Treatment with a dosage of 4 J/cm(2) exhibited more expressive results than that with 8 J/cm(2). In this study, the authors concluded that low-level laser therapy contributed to a larger expression of collagen and elastic fibers during the early phases of the wound healing process.