Ischemic wound healing models / Objectives

ischemic skin wound healing models

One of the most common complications of both type I and type II diabetes is the development of chronic non-healing foot ulcerations leading to severe morbidity and mortality. The cause of impaired wound-healing in diabetes is multifactorial and includes vascular, neurologic, and inflammatory alterations.
In vivo investigation of diabetes-related impaired wound healing is most commonly performed in rodents and rabbits. The set up of these preclinical ischemic wound healing models permits the evaluation of efficacy of new drugs (after enteral / parenteral or topical administrations directly on wounds), of medical devices (dressings / gels / nanoparticles / etc…) or of innovative biotherapies (peptides / proteins / Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) / etc…).


Rabbit ischemic wound healing models


Advantages / Rabbit wound healing models

  • Rabbit ear skin is similar to human skin:
    • Blood vessels serve as a major heat-exchange surface
    • Controlled by autonomic nervous system for thermoregulation
    • Healing process principally done by re-epithelialization
    • Low wound retraction in comparison to rodents
  • Rabbit ear permits various wound biopsies for healing evaluation at different induction times
  • Longitudinal model / observations at different timepoints
  • Serial blood sampling possible / PK and PK/PD applicable
  • Ischemia or neuro-ischemia inducible with the same model

Description / Rabbit wound healing models

  • Project perfromed in SPF A1 facility
  • Ischemia or neuro-ischemia induction on left ear
    • Ischemia: Rostral & central arteries ligature / Caudal artery and all veins untouched
    • Neuros-ischemia: Rostral & central arteries + nerves ligature / Caudal artery + nerve and all veins untouched
  • Opposite ear as control (no ischemia)
  • Wound induction (epidermis + dermis biopsy) / 4 to 6 wounds per ear possible
  • Sterile transparent film dressing applied
  • Daily sterile woundcare

Endpoints / Rabbit wound healing models

LDI vs. IR thermal imaging in ischemic skin wound healing models
LDI vs. FLIR imaging in ischemia models
  • Surface ear skin temperature monitoring
    • Spot temperature with IR thermometer
    • FLIR camera for ear skin temperature mapping
  • Ear skin blood irrigation
    • Spot Laser Doppler
    • Laser Doppler Imaging (LDI) for ear skin blood circulation mapping
  • Wound diameters calliper
  • Calibrated digital pictures
  • Histology HES / immunohistochemistry from collected ear skin samples

Results expected / Rabbit wound healing models

  • Ear temperature difference from 1 to 10°C between ischemic vs. non-ischemic ear
  • Healing delay about 5 to 10 days on wound closure

Please inquire for more details on rabbit ischemic skin wound healing models


Rodent ischemic wound healing models


Models types / Rodent wound healing models

  • Flap models / dorsal skin
    Single pedicle flap model (Mc Farlane model)
  • Bipedicle flap model
  • H-flap model
  • Rat ischemic ear

Description / Rodent wound healing models

  • Project performed in SPF A1 facility
  • Non ischemic wounds on non ischemic skin for control
  • Wound induction (epidermis + dermis biopsy)
  • Sterile transparent film dressing applied
  • Daily sterile woundcare

Endpoints / Rodent wound healing models

  • Surface skin temperature monitoring
    • Spot temperature with IR thermometer
    • FLIR camera for ear skin temperature mapping
  • Skin blood irrigation
    • Spot Laser Doppler
    • Laser Doppler Imaging (LDI) for ear skin blood circulation mapping
  • Wound diameters calipering
    • Calibrated digital pictures
    • Histology HES / immunohistochemistry from collected ear skin samples

Please inquire for more details on rodent ischemic skin wound healing models