<![CDATA[Background: Glucocorticoid-induced immunosuppression disrupts cellular immune responses, including lymphocyte function, and delays oral traumatic ulcer healing. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) offers an alternative for healing traumatic oral ulcers in immunosuppressed patients. Objective: To analyze the effect of 650 nm LLLT on the number of lymphocytes in traumatic ulcer tissue of immunosuppressed Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Experimental laboratory study with a randomized post-test-only control group design. Wistar rats were immunosuppressed with dexamethasone (7.2 mg/kg/day for 5 days), and traumatic ulcers were induced in the labial mucosa. Two groups were compared: a doxycycline-irrigated control group and a treatment group receiving doxycycline irrigation combined with 650 nm LLLT (50 mW for 1 minute). Animals were euthanized on days 2, 4, 6, and 8 (n=4). Lymphocytes, small cells with large, dark hyperchromatic nuclei, were counted in HE-stained histopathological sections of periulcer connective tissue at 400x magnification by oral pathologists. Results: Significant differences were observed between control and treatment groups (p<0.0001). The treatment group demonstrated significant differences in the number of lymphocytes, except between day 6 (6.00±0.71) and day 8 (6.80±0.84) (p=0.737), whereas in the control group, significant differences were observed only between day 2 (1.80±0.45) and day 8 (3.60±0.55) (p=0.019). Post-hoc Tukey HSD revealed significant differences on days 6 and 8 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The combination of doxycycline irrigation and 650 nm LLLT exposure for 1 minute over three consecutive days increases lymphocyte infiltration in traumatic ulcer tissue of immunosuppressed Wistar rats, indicating acceleration of the inflammatory phase toward healing.]]>
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