title: An optimized animal model for partial and total skin thickness burns studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Development of an improved animal model for studying skin burns in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n=6): G1-Control, G2- T100°C, G3-T150°C and G4-T200°C. Two 10 x 10 mm squares were outlined with a sterile surgical marker on each side and along the vertebral column using a prepared template positioned between the anterior and posterior limbs. G2-G4 rats were subjected to 100°C, 150°C and 200ºC thermal burns, respectively. G1 rats served as controls. Burns were inflicted by applying a copper plate connected to an electronic temperature controlling device to the dorsal skin of anesthetized rats. Four burns were produced on each animal (total area: 4 cm²/animal) leaving about 1 cm of undamaged skin between burn areas. Analgesia was administered during 24 h after burn injury by adding 30 mg codeine phosphate hemihydrate to 500 ml tap water.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The application of 100°C and 150ºC resulted in partial thickness skin burns with central reepithelialization of the burned area only at 100°C. In G4 group the whole thickness of the skin was injured without central reepithelialization. However, there was marginal reepithelialization in all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The model studied is inexpensive and easily reproducible, enabling the achievement of controlled burns with partial or total impairment of the skin in experimental animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza-CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula Bomfim Soares
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Campelo
authors.forename: Marcio Wilker Soares
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Campelo
authors.forename: Gerly Anne de Castro
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Britto
authors.forename: Alejandro Pedro
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: Sergio Botelho
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto Leitão de
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008297:Male; D010784:Photomicrography; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D013997:Time Factors