IGF-1 is a protein with a very similar sequence to insulin and promotes the granulation tissue synthesis. Insulin can activate phosphatidylinositol kinase-3 transduction pathways and mitogenic protein with kinase activity, which influence the wound healing process. The study aimed to evaluate the use of fast-acting insulin topical solution in skin to promote surgical wound healing in cats.A sample of 60 healthy female cats,submitted to elective spay was used.Analgesic, anesthesia and surgical procedures were the same for all patients. Surgical wound was divided into 2 regions:a cranial control zone(Zcr), and a caudal study zone(Zest) in which a saline solution with fast-acting insulin was topically applied. T1(day 1) and T2(day 8) were considered, to evaluate the suture healing process using a healing scale. P-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.At T2 the Zest had a lower score than the Zcr, healing faster. Differences were registered for the parameters - presence of liquid in the surgical wound (P=0.01), and removal of suture stitches (P=0.03).Topical administration of insulin promotes the early infiltration of macrophages in the wound area, accelerating regional debridement. As a result, the surgical wound will enter the proliferative phase earlier and the re-epithelialization appears earlier. IGF-1 which inhibits apoptosis pathways, decreases pro-inflammatory cytokines production, and stimulates the proliferation, migration, and excretion of extracellular matrix promoting the synthesis of granulation tissue. Topical application of insulin enhances the healing of surgical wounds process. This is the first study carried out on the advantages of insulin topical use in surgical wounds healing in cats
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