Abstract: Objective: To study the effect of iodine on wounds in the skin of rats. Methods: A bilateral round full-thickness wound was made on the back of Wistar rats. The benefit effect of iodine on the skin wound was evaluated by determining closure time and contracting ability of the skin wound. The expression of VEGF in the wound tissues was determined by immunohistochemical techniques and an image analysis system. Results: The closure time of skin wounds was significantly shorter in the 10HI-treated groups than that in the sodium chloride-treated groups. The percentage of the wound contraction was higher in the 10HI-treated groups than that in the sodium chloride-treated groups (P＜0.01 and P＜0.05) between the 1st and the 7th day after wounding. There was no difference between the 1000HI-treated groups and the sodium chloride-treated groups. Histopathological results showed that 10HI could promote the formation of new born capillaries and the proliferation of fibroblasts at an early period of wound healing and promote the expression of VEGF from fibroblasts and the vascular endothelial cells; whereas 1000HI reversed these. Conclusion: Iodine of benefit concentration has the ability to promote healing in the skin of rats, but iodine of high concentration can delay healing.

Key words: Iodine, Wounds and injuries, Angiogenesis factor, Microscopy, electron