Ultrastructural view of colon anastomosis under propolis effect by transmission electron microscopy.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of propolis administration on the healing of colon anastomosis with light and transmission electron microscopes.

Methods: Forty-eight Wistar-Albino female rats were divided into two groups and had colon resection and anastomosis. In group I, rats were fed with standard rat chow pre- and postoperatively. The rats in group II were fed with standard rat chow and began receiving oral supplementation of propolis 100 mg/kg per day beginning 7 d before the operation and continued until they were sacrificed. Rats were sacrificed 1, 3, 7 and 14 d after operation, and anastomotic bursting pressures measured. After the resection of anastomotic segments, histopathological examination was performed with light and transmission electron microscopes by two blinded histologists and photographed.

Results: The colonic bursting pressures of the propolis group were statistically significantly better than the control group. Ultrastructural histopathological analysis of the colon anastomosis revealed that propolis accelerated the phases of the healing process and stimulated mature granulation tissue formation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts.

Conclusion: Bursting pressure measurements and ultra structural histopathological evaluation showed that administration of propolis accelerated the healing of colon anastomosis following surgical excision.