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. 2021 Mar 8:76:e2066.
doi: 10.6061/clinics/2021/e2066. eCollection 2021.

Acellular dermal matrix in skin wound healing in rabbits - histological and histomorphometric analyses

José da Conceição Carvalho-Júnior  1 , Fabiana Zanata  1 , Antônio Carlos Aloise  1 , Lydia Masako Ferreira  1
Affiliations

Acellular dermal matrix in skin wound healing in rabbits - histological and histomorphometric analyses

José da Conceição Carvalho-Júnior et al. Clinics (Sao Paulo). .

Abstract

Objectives: To analyze the histology and histomorphometry of healing associated with acellular dermal matrix in skin wounds in rabbits.

Methods: Twelve male rabbits were divided into two groups: the control group (CG) and the matrix group (MG). Three skin wounds with a total area of 20 × 20 mm were created on the dorsal region of each animal. Photographic records of the lesions taken over a 21-day period and use of the ImageJ program allowed calculation of the wound contraction rate. The lesions were biopsied on days 3, 14 and 21 for histomorphometric analysis to define the thicknesses of the dermis and epidermis (hematoxylin-eosin) and calculate the densities of type I and type III collagen (picrosirius).

Results: No significant difference in the healing rate was found between the groups (p>0.05). The MG presented greater epidermal thickness on day 3 (p<0.05) and on days 14 and 21 (p<0.001). The MG presented greater dermal thickness throughout the study period (p<0.05). The type I collagen density was higher in the MG throughout the study period (p<0.05), and the type III collagen density was higher in the MG on days 3 and 14 (p<0.05) and on day 21 (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The use of acellular dermal matrix increased the thickness of the dermal and epidermal layers and the amount of type I and III collagen during skin wound healing and did not alter the rate of wound contraction.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Points of reference for making the wounds.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Dermal matrix attached to the wounds in the matrix group.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Photographic record of wound healing for each rabbit in the control group.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Photographic record of wound healing for each rabbit in the matrix group.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Wound healing rate in both groups. Cx (rabbits from the control group on day x); MDx (rabbits from the matrix group on day x).
Figure 6
Figure 6. Epidermal thickness progression in both groups. *p<0.05; ***p<0.001.
Figure 7
Figure 7. Histological photographs showing the thickness of the dermis and epidermis over time (H & E, 10×).
Figure 8
Figure 8. Dermal thickness progression in both groups. *p<0.05.
Figure 9
Figure 9. Collagen type I density progression in the CG and MG. *p<0.05.
Figure 10
Figure 10. Collagen type III density progression in the CG and MG. *p<0.05 ***p<0.001.
Figure 11
Figure 11. Histological photographs showing the distribution of type I (red) and type III (green) collagen fibers during the healing process in both groups (picrosirius red, 10×).
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