J Korean Soc Plast Reconstr Surg.  1998 Jul;25(5):731-739.

The inhibition of wound contraction and biologic attachment of acellular dermal matrix on full-thickness skin defect in rat

• Han SB
• Kim SW
• Park KC

Abstract

Although wound healing is a natural biologic process by which the homeostasis is preserved, the resultant hypertrophic scar or scar contracture may produce undesirable morphologic and functional sequelae. To overcome these problems, a number of attempts to produce skin substitute have been made in recent years, but none have proved to be entirely satisfactory. We compared the wound healing of full-thickness dorsal skin defects between ADM(acelluar dermal matrix)-applied wound and ADM non-applied wound group in 20 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. The wound area was serially evaluated at 1,2,3 weeks and the difference in the mean area ratios between the two groups was then statistically analyzed using Wilcoxon rank sums test. We also performed histological evaluation of the wounds at 1,2,3 weeks. Results were as follows: 1. Experimentally produced ADM was easy to handle. Histologic findings showed no epithelium, no appendages, no cells dermal and subcutaneous layer and pure bundles of collagen. 2. The wound area ratio of ADM applied wound group was statistically larger than that of ADM non-applied(control) wound group. That is, ADM was able to inhibit the wound contraction compared with the ADM non-applied wound group. 3. In the ADM-applied group, we observed low grade exudates, no infection, fine take-up of ADM on full-thickness skin defect, gross and histologic findings of neovascularization, and progressive epithelization on ADM. These findings of biologic attachment implies the function of the ADM as a dermal substitute. These can be basis of the study on the development of artificial skin.

MeSH Terms

Acellular Dermis*
Adult
Animals
Cicatrix
Cicatrix, Hypertrophic
Collagen
Contracture
Epithelium
Exudates and Transudates
Female
Homeostasis
Humans
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Skin*
Skin, Artificial
Wound Healing
Wounds and Injuries*
Collagen