A MODEL OF WOUND-HEALING IN CHRONICALLY RADIATION-DAMAGED RAT SKIN

The aim of this investigation was to develop a model for studying the chronic effects of radiation on wound healing in the rat. Six months a fter rats received a single radiation exposure of 20 Gy, a random-patt ern dorsal skin flap was elevated. Two weeks after the flap was elevat ed, irradiated animals showed diminished scar formation and wound brea king strength, as compared with controls (P < 0.05). The effect of hyp erbaric oxygen treatment was investigated in some rats who received 20 sessions at 2.4 atmospheres absolute for 90 min daily, 5 days per wee k, prior to flap elevation and 10 sessions after creation of the flap. Treated animals showed a trend toward improvements in wound breaking strength and scar formation (P = 0.06). A reproducible model of chroni c radiation damage in the rat was established. Further studies involvi ng investigations at times more that 2 weeks post-wounding are needed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.