Department of Anatomy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China.
Department of Plastic Surgery, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Int J Exp Pathol. 2021 Apr;102(2):105-112. doi: 10.1111/iep.12389. Epub 2021 Mar 12.
The processes of hypertrophic scar formation are extremely complex, and current animal models have limitations in terms of the complete characterization of lesions. An ideal animal model is indispensable for exploring the complex progression of scar formation to elucidate its pathophysiology and to perform therapeutic testing. This study aimed to establish a long-term, consistent and easily testable animal model by injecting anhydrous alcohol into the dorsal trunk dermis of rabbits. The rabbits were injected with different amounts of anhydrous alcohol. Anhydrous alcohol was infiltrated into the subcutaneous and superficial fascia. The optimal amount of anhydrous alcohol was determined by measuring the area and thickness of the scar. The typical model was established by determining the optimum dosage, and then we analysed the histological characteristics and fibrosis-associated protein expression. The dermal scar was generated by treating with 2 ml/kg anhydrous alcohol and displayed histopathologic features that characterize human hypertrophic scarring, including a parallel collagen fibre orientation, dermal and epidermal thickening, broad collagen deposition and the loss of dermal adnexal structures. The expression of fibrotic pan-markers was also enhanced. Moreover, the scar features and duration were compared between the anhydrous alcohol model and the rabbit ear model. Our results show that injecting anhydrous alcohol in the rabbit model thickened the dermal tissue, stimulated dermal fibroproliferation and resulted in hypertrophic scars with protein and histologic features similar to those seen in humans. Taken together, the findings from this study show that our model could be a feasible and useful tool for further research on the pathogenesis of hypertrophic scars.
增生性瘢痕的形成过程极其复杂，目前的动物模型在病变的完全特征描述方面存在局限性。探索瘢痕形成的复杂进展，阐明其病理生理学并进行治疗性测试，都离不开理想的动物模型。本研究旨在通过向兔背部真皮注射无水酒精来建立一种长期、稳定且易于测试的动物模型。将不同剂量的无水酒精注入兔子体内，无水酒精渗透到皮下和浅筋膜中。通过测量瘢痕的面积和厚度来确定最佳的无水酒精用量。通过确定最佳剂量来建立典型模型，然后分析组织学特征和纤维化相关蛋白的表达。用 2ml/kg 无水酒精处理可产生真皮瘢痕，其组织病理学特征与人类增生性瘢痕一致，包括平行的胶原纤维取向、真皮和表皮增厚、广泛的胶原沉积以及真皮附属结构的丧失。纤维化的泛标志物的表达也增强了。此外，还比较了无水酒精模型和兔耳模型之间的瘢痕特征和持续时间。我们的结果表明，在兔模型中注射无水酒精会使真皮组织增厚，刺激真皮成纤维细胞增生，导致增生性瘢痕，其蛋白和组织学特征与人类相似。总之，本研究的结果表明，我们的模型可能是研究增生性瘢痕发病机制的一种可行且有用的工具。
