Evaluation of Mouse Wound Models for Probiotics-Based Wound Infection Prevention Study
Abstract
Probiotics are live microorganisms that have shown a health benefit when taken in adequate amounts. Typically, these are given as food supplements and have been shown to play a role in disease remediation, particularly in gastrointestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease. In the case of a diarrheal infection, probiotics have been thought to assist in reduction of bad bacteria through competition by good bacteria. There has been some interest in using these organisms in early wound care to aid in prevention of infection in both traumatic and surgical settings. We used established methods to produce typical wounds in a reproducible manner using a murine model. The wound models were challenged with known infection-causing bacteria and then treated with either probiotic bacteria or a control. However, the primary goal was not to develop a probiotic treatment regime but rather to develop a murine model that is appropriate for rapid screening of any experimental wound treatment and is also suitable for determination of parameters of that treatment. We attempted to create four wounding models: (1) simple full thickness skin incision, (2) stitched skin flap, (3) burn (with liquid nitrogen), and (4) skin incision with circulatory disruption. Of the four wound models attempted, only two were completely reproducible (models 1 and 2). Model 4, producing the circulatory disruption by tourniquet, is easily reproducible, but creating a punch on the extremity of the mouse was not reproducible. This model was not pursued, as it could not be consistently reproduced using mice. It is advised that if this model is of interest, a larger species, such as rats, should be used. The punch and skin flap models are reproducible murine models for wounding and infection.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1013582
Entities
People
- Alex Lentsch
- Rebecca Schuster
Organizations
- University of Cincinnati