Introduction. Wound healing is a complicated process, including inflammation, proliferation, epithelialization, angiogenesis, and collagen matrix formation. The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of oleuropein on oral wound healing in healthy and diabetics rats by CD31 immunohistochemistry and microvessel density measurement. Methods and materials. The study is an experimental investigation on a study population of 96 adult male Wistar rats, divided into six groups: control group, oleuropein extract, base material, diabetic control, diabetic receiving oleuropein, and diabetic receiving base material. Next, a wound measuring approximately 2 by 2 mm was punctured in the hard palate of rats’ mouth. The animals were sacrificed on days 2, 4, 6, and 8 of the experiment. Blocks of the standardized wound area stained with CD31 and, eventually, slides were investigated using an optical microscope. Finally, the data analyzed by SPSS-21 software, one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey’s test was used at p<0.05 to compare the mean values. Results and discussion. The highest values for vascular densities and CD31-infected cells were observed on the 4th and 6th experimental days, respectively. However, there were no significant increases for these values compared to those observed on other days of the experiment. The highest values for CD31 staining and vascular density were observed for the control group and for that with oleuropein extract, on the 4th day of the experiment. Also, there was a significant difference in the CD31expression in the control group, compared to the others. Conclusions. The findings of the present study showed that oleuropein extract produces a non-significant increase in the process of angiogenesis.
Keywords:- angiogenesis
- CD31
- diabetes
- oleuropein
- ulcer
- wound healing