RESUMO
Laser biomodulation has been getting considerable attention when it comes to its effects on the inflammatory process. Its action upon mast cells have been already studied, but none of the previous papers related the resulting effect to the inflammatory and vascular status of the wounds. Therefore, the acute inflammatory process as well as the mast cells behavior and the vascular response were analyzed under the influence of laser treatment on cutaneous wounds. Surgical procedures were performed on 60 rats divided into sham and laser groups. Low-level laser therapy was performed following surgical procedures (670 nm, 9 mW, 4 J/cm(2), 124 s). Histological specimens were analyzed for cell morphology and immunohistochemistry using anti-von Willebrand Factor and anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor antibody. Laser treatment resulted in an increased acute inflammatory response in irradiated tissues; surgical wounds treated with laser therapy had increased polymorphonuclear cells, mast cells and vasodilation and lower numbers of vessels than those in control rats. Laser treatment resulted in higher expression of VEGF in irradiated tissues 6-24h post-treatment (p=0.002). It is possible to observe an amplification of acute inflammatory process during the first hours after surgical procedure in rats submitted to laser therapy.