title: Skin microvascular response to pressure load in obese mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of obesity in the appearance of skin pressure ulcers remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate blood perfusion and related lesions after skin compression in obese mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty C57BL6 male mice were randomly assigned to a control or hypercalorific diet (HCD) for 2, 4 and 12weeks. Skin compression was induced by a magnetic force of 11 kPa overlying a subcutaneous metal plate and applied for 4h. Skin perfusion was examined using laser Doppler imaging before skin compression, immediately after compression release and 24h later. 24h after magnet removal, skin injuries were determined by photography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A heterogeneous distribution of blood perfusion was observed using the colour-coded map of the skin perfusion on the compressed area. At 24-h post-compression release, 60% to 75% of the compressed area was ischaemic in the 2-week HCD group and in all the control groups compared to 35% in the 4- and 15% in the 12-week HCD groups. The lowest occurrence of skin lesion seen as skin redness or pressure-sores was observed in the 12- week HCD group (4%) compared to about 12% in either the control or the 2- and 4-week HCD groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that there was no clear relationship between the extent of ischaemia and skin lesion occurrence after skin compression in short-duration obese mice. In contrast, it appears that long-duration obesity could reduce both ischaemia and skin lesions in response to skin compression through changes in skin structure.
authors.affiliation: UMR 5305 CNRS, 69 367 Lyon cedex 07, France; University of Lyon 1, 69 367 Lyon cedex 07, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Sophie
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nguyen-Tu
authors.forename: Anne-Laure
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Begey
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Decorps
authors.forename: Jérémy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boizot
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.forename: Bérengère
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fromy
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sigaudo-Roussel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D002149:Energy Intake; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008833:Microcirculation; D055806:Microvessels / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011312:Pressure; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013997:Time Factors