The effect of resveratrol on prevention of the development of postoperative adhesions in a rat model.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the anti-adhesion potential of resveratrol, a phytoestrogen naturally found in wine, in a rat uterine horn model.

Methods: Lesions were created by laparotomy in the uterine horn of 70 rats, randomized before the operation into seven groups consisting of ten animals each: (1) control group, no adjuvant therapy; (2) intraperitoneal (IP) application of the resveratrol dilution vehicle, 10 mg/kg, before closing the laparotomy; (3) subcutaneous (SC) injection of dilution vehicle, 10 mg/kg, 30 min before the operation; (4) IP application of resveratrol, 10 mg/kg, before closing the laparotomy; (5) SC injection of resveratrol, 10 mg/kg, 30 min before the operation; (6) IP application of resveratrol, 10 mg/kg, before closing the laparotomy and continued SC daily for 5 days; and (7) SC injection of resveratrol, 10 mg/kg, 30 min before the operation and continued SC daily for 5 days. On the 14th postoperative day adhesion scores were determined. Levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were also measured.

Results: In animals treated with repeated SC resveratrol, adhesions were graded as significantly less severe than in the vehicle control group or the groups treated with resveratrol IP or IP plus SC. TAC of control group rats was significantly lower than that of animals treated with repeated SC resveratrol.

Conclusion: Repeated SC resveratrol significantly reduces adhesion formation.