Experimental modelling of full-thickness skin wounds in pigs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63341/bmbr/1.2025.43Keywords:
excisional wound model, porcine model, wound edge contraction, wound area, wound healing, dermal matrixAbstract
In the modern context, there is a growing need to develop a relevant experimental model of a skin wound that closely replicates the regeneration processes occurring in human wounds. The aim of this study was to develop a method to prevent premature contraction of wound edges during the experimental modelling of a full-thickness skin wound in pigs, thereby creating optimal conditions for evaluating the effectiveness of local treatment approaches. An experimental study was conducted on a white pig weighing 15 kg. A full-thickness skin wound measuring 5×5 cm was created on the animal’s back under thiopental sodium anaesthesia at a dosage of 80 mg/kg. Tissue samples were collected from the wound site via punch biopsy under general anaesthesia, fixed in 10% neutral formalin, and embedded in paraffin using standard histological techniques. Deparaffinised sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. A computer program was developed in Python to calculate the wound area using the Monte Carlo method. To visualise the results and observe trends, graphical representations in the form of diagrams were used. The study demonstrated the feasibility of modulating contraction in full-thickness skin defects by applying incisions. The most effective method involved tangential incisions at each corner of the wound, each measuring up to 1 cm in length. This technique reduced the degree of wound edge contraction. On day 28 of observation, the wound area in the experimental group was 69.3% of the original size, compared to 39.3% in the control group. To accurately assess the effectiveness of treatments for fullthickness skin wounds in porcine models, it is essential to maintain a wound of appropriate size for at least 28 days to allow for observation of scar tissue formation. The proposed wound model enables controlled modulation of contraction and preserves an adequate wound surface area for the duration necessary to study scar formation processes
Received: 11.10.2024 | Revised: 04.01.2025 | Accepted: 25.02.2025
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