DYNAMICS OF PH CHANGES AND CYTOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN A FULL-THICKNESS EXPERIMENTAL WOUND UNDER CONDITIONS OF ACELLULAR DERMAL MATRIX APPLICATION

Abstract

SUMMARY. The pH level within a wound represents a critical parameter influencing the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions and the overall course of tissue repair. Cytological analysis can serve as a valuable prognostic indicator of wound closure efficacy, as it provides insight into the dynamic balance between inflammatory responses and regenerative processes at the early stages of repair.

The aim – to investigate the features of pH dynamics on the wound surface and the cytological structure of a full-thickness skin defect in pigs when using an acellular dermal matrix.

Material and Methods. An analysis was performed on the data of pH-metry of full-thickness experimental wounds in pigs and on cytological smears obtained from these wounds. The wound model was formed according to the author’s proposed method.

The pH level was determined using a pH meter EZODO 6011A, calibrated at two points (pH=4.00 and pH=7.00). Statistical analysis was performed using the nonparametric Mann–Whitney criterion (Mann–Whitney U test).

Cytological examination was carried out according to the method of M. P. Pokrovska and M. S. Makarov, modified by D. M. Shteinberg. Cytograms were examined under a Nikon E 100 microscope.

Results. The pH of the full-thickness skin defect in pigs changes depending on the stage of the wound-healing process. It was established that throughout the observation period, the wound pH remains alkaline, which reflects the specific nature of healing in full-thickness skin defects in pigs.The use of the acellular dermal matrix contributes to a reduction of the local inflammatory reaction in the wound, which correlates with changes in pH and in the cytological structure of the wound-surface smears. Cytological studies confirm the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity of the acellular dermal matrix, which has pathophysiological significance for optimizing skin regeneration processes.

Conclusions. 1. The initial alkaline pH (7.05±0.12) in the full-thickness wound of pigs is a natural consequence of the release of intracellular alkaline components from muscle tissue, disturbances of microcirculation and oxidative metabolism, as well as the early inflammatory response with a high exudate content. Subsequently, in the absence of signs of progressive inflammation, the pH in the full-thickness wound remains alkaline.

The increased pH during the application of the acellular dermal matrix can be considered an indicator of active remodeling of protein structures and normalization of the wound microenvironment. This confirms the promising potential of using the ADM as a bioactive dressing in reconstructive skin surgery.

2. The use of the acellular dermal matrix helps reduce the intensity of the acute inflammatory response during the wound-healing process, accelerates the formation of granulation tissue, and stimulates faster restoration of the epithelial layer.