Intravital insights in skin wound healing using the mouse dorsal skin fold chamber

Abstract

The skin fold chamber is one of the most accepted animal models for studying the microcirculation both in health and disease. Here we describe for the first time the alternative use of the skin fold chamber in mice for intravital microscopic investigation of skin regeneration after creating a full dermal thickness wound. The dorsal skin fold chamber was implanted in hairless SKH1-hr mice and a full dermal thickness wound (area ~4 mm 2 ) was created. By means of intravital fluorescence microscopy, the kinetics of wound healing were analyzed for 12 days post wounding with assessment of epithelialization and nutritive perfusion. The morphology of the regenerating skin was characterized by hematoxylin-eosin histology and immunohistochemistry for proliferation and microvessel density. The model allows the continuous visualization of wound closure with complete epithelialization at day 12. Furthermore, a sola cutis se reficientis could be described by an inner circular ring of vessels at the wound margin surrounded by outer radial passing vessels. Inner circular vessels presented initially with large diameters and matured towards diameters of less than 15 µ m for conversion into radial spreading outer vessels. Furthermore, wound healing showed all diverse core issues of skin repair. In summary, we were able to establish a model for the analysis of microcirculation in the healing skin of the mouse. This versatile model allows distinct analysis of new vessel formation and maturation in regenerating skin as well as evaluation of skin healing under different pathologic conditions.

Potentials and limitations of Integra® flowable wound matrix seeded with adipose tissue-derived microvascular fragments

“…For the in vivo analysis of the ad-MVF-seeded matrices, we used a modified dorsal skinfold chamber model according to Sorg et al (2007;2009). For the implantation of the dorsal skinfold chamber (Irola Industriekomponenten GmbH & Co. KG, Schonach, Germany), the mice were anaesthetised by intraperitoneal injection of ketamine (75 mg/kg body weight; Ursotamin ® ; Serumwerke Bernburg, Bernburg, Germany) and xylazine (25 mg/kg body weight; Rompun ® , Bayer, Leverkusen, Germany).…”

Real-time imaging of de novo arteriovenous malformation in a mouse model of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

“…However, we were unable to examine the onset, progression, remodeling, and hemodynamic characters of these AV shunts. To overcome these limitations, we utilized a recently developed hyperspectral imaging system in a dorsal skinfold window chamber model (19)(20)(21)(22), which allows monitoring the process of vascular remodeling during wound healing through intravital images. With this system, we obtained bright-field images, levels of hemoglobin (Hb) oxygen saturation, and video recording of blood flow on the blood vessels of control and mutant mice during wound healing for 8 days.…”

Memory Encoded Throughout Our Bodies: Molecular and Cellular Basis of Tissue Regeneration

“…Cell memory and sensitivity to mechanical stimuli has been recently used in promising studies of acute and chronic wound epithelialization with the use of ultrasound and shock waves, and are now entering phase III clinical evaluation (121). From a scientific point of view, intravital observation of wound healing processes is currently becoming a seminal source of information on natural cell behavior that could also be used in tissue engineering and assessment of biologic functionality of bioengineered tissues (122)(123)(124). The effects of temporary wound coverage, antibacterial protection, and other external conditions on the healing process are also an integral part of current research (125)(126)(127)(128).…”