Laser burn wound healing in naso-labial region of fetal and neonatal mice

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of wound healing in the mouse naso-labial region in both the fetal and neonatal stages, histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed using a newly established laser burn wound healing system.

Materials and methods: Fetal mice at embryonic day 14 (E 14) were wounded as a model of fetal wound healing. To compare it, neonatal mice at day 5 after birth (d 5) were adopted as a model of neonatal wound healing. The healing process was examined by van Gieson staining and immunohistochemistry for fibronectin and tenascin.

Results: Relatively large damage remained after wound healing even in fetal mice. In both types of wound healing, rapid regeneration of muscle tissues were observed. Fibronectin and tenascin immunostaining was detected not only in wound healing region, but also in the endomysium of regenerating muscle tissues. Especially, tenascin showed a restricted expression pattern.

Conclusions: Rapid regeneration of muscle tissues in the naso-labial region in both the fetal and neonatal mice seemed to leave relatively large damage even in the fetal wound healing. Contracted force exerted by muscle tissues may be a reason for this phenomenon. Fibronectin and tenascin were closely related to the wound healing process including muscle regeneration in this region.