Characteristics of palatal wound healing in desalivated rats.

The healing of excisional wounds in the palate of desalivated rats was evaluated. Experimental rats became desalivated after extirpation of the submandibular and sublingual glands and ligation of the parotid ducts. Small or large circular wounds, 3 or 5 mm in diameter, were produced in the palate. The wound area, area of inflammation, area of connective tissue formation and the number of myofibroblasts were determined at 0, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after surgery. The area of the small wound (3 mm) was similar in experimental and control groups; however, the area of the large wound (5 mm) was greater in the experimental group (p < 0.05-0.01). The area of inflammation was greater in the experimental group with small or large wounds (p < 0.05-0.01). Connective tissue formation was less (p < 0.01) in desalivated rats with a small wound at day 14 and with a large wound at days 21 and 28. There were fewer myofibroblasts in the large wound of desalivated rats (p < 0.01) than in controls between days 3 and 14. The results indicate that palatal wound healing is delayed in desalivated rats and that larger wounds are more sensitive to desalivation than smaller wounds.