Effect of topical application of chlorhexidine and metronidazole on the tissue repair of palatal wounds of rats: a clinical and histomorphometric study

Objective. This study investigated the effect of topical application of 2% chlorhexidine (GCl) and metronidazole (Gme) pastes for the repair of palatal wounds in rats.Study Design. A 4-mm diameter wound was created on the palates of 27 rats separated randomly into 3 groups of 9 animals each, according to the treatment received: GNa (Control: natrosol), GCl, and GMe. The animals were euthanized after 3, 6, and 10 days, and wound closure was clinically and histomorphometrically assessed.Results. Clinical evaluation showed a statistically significant difference in tissue repair with GCl and GMe compared with GNa. In histomorphometric analysis, the highest values in the areas of the epithelium and keratin were observed for GCl and GMe; however, compared with Gna, no statistically significant differences were observed.Conclusions. GCl and GMe pastes showed promising results with regard to tissue repair from a clinical point of view. Histologically, premature closure of wounds was noted in most specimens on day 6. Although no statistically significant differences were observed among the experimental groups with regard to histometry of the epithelium and keratin, the highest means were observed for GCl.