Sulfur mustard-induced skin burns in weanling swine evaluated clinically and histopathologically

Histopathological indicators and clinical observations were used to evaluat e wound severity, depth and degree of healing on days 2 and 8 for full-skin -thickness sulfur-mustard (HD)-induced burns in weanling swine. Six female weanling swine were exposed for 2 h to 400 mul of HD at each of six dose si tes on the hairless abdominal skin. Biopsy samples (8 mm) were taken from t he periphery and from the center of the wound on day 2, and the wound was e xcised on day 8. Histopathological indicators evaluated were epidermal necr osis, follicular necrosis, dermal necrosis, vascular necrosis, depth of inj ury, ulceration (loss of epidermis), granulation tissue response, neovascul arization, re-epithelialization (hyperplasia) and completeness of healing. Wounds were more severe from anterior to posterior. Histopathological asses sment of epidermal ulceration and necrosis of epidermis, dermis, basal epit helium, adnexal structures and subcutaneous tissue were useful indicators o f wound development on day 2. Granulation tissue response (observed as earl y as day 8) and re-epithelialization were good indicators of wound healing. Clinical evaluations were performed on day 2 prior to and after debriding, and on study day 8. Clinical observations on study day 2 were for wound si ze and for exudation, erythema, edema, necrosis and eschar. Clinical observ ations on study day 8 were for the previous parameters and for re-epithelia lization, granulation and infection. Wound size and severity increased from anterior to posterior position. Size, exudation and edema were useful indi cators of wound development. These histological and clinical observation pa rameters will be used in future experiments to compare various treatments f or HD-induced burns. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.