Healing with Love: Oxytocin Accelerates Oral Ulcer Recovery by Reducing Inflammation

Article Healing with Love: Oxytocin Accelerates Oral Ulcer Recovery by Reducing Inflammation Mert Zeytino˘glu 1 , Osman Sezer Çınaro˘glu 2 , Ejder Saylav Bora 2,* and Oytun Erba¸s 3 1 Department of Oral, Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Ege University, 35040 Bornova, Izmir, Türkiye; mert.zeytinoglu@ege.edu.tr 2 Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir Katip Çelebi University, 35620 Çi˘gli, Izmir, Türkiye; drsezer@hotmail.com 3 Faculty of Medicine, BAMER, Biruni University, 34015 Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Türkiye; oytunerbas2012@gmail.com * Correspondence: ejdersaylav.bora@ikc.edu.tr Abstract: Background: Oral ulcerative mucositis (OUM) is a painful, inflammatory mucosa lesion that impairs quality of life. Despite available treatments, effective agents that promote faster healing and modulate inflammation are still needed. Oxytocin (OT), a neuropeptide with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, may aid wound healing by regulating the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This study investigates the effects of OT on oral ulcer healing in rats, focusing on its modulation of the MMP-2/TIMP-2 pathway. Methods: Acetic acid 70% was used as the oral mucosal ulcer inducer. Thirtysix Wistar albino rats were divided into control, oral ulcer + saline, and oral ulcer + OT (intraperitoneally for 15 days) groups. Histopathological, biochemical, and molecular analyses were performed. Buccal mucosa tissue was examined for TNF-α, TIMP-2, and MMP-2 levels via ELISA, while oxidative stress markers and pentraxin-3 (PTX3) were also assessed. Results: OT significantly preserved epithelial integrity and reduced fibrosis compared to the saline group (p