Shortage in autograft to cover burn wounds involves a frequent use of cadaver skin (CS) as a temporary cover to prevent infection, dehydration and preparation of wounds for subsequent autografting. We aimed to establish an ovine model of burn wound healing using ovine CS (OCS). Quality and efficacy of fresh and frozen OCS overlaid on to excised 3rd degree flame burn wounds in sheep were evaluated in comparison to autograft. Histologically, autografted wounds maintained normal skin structure at different time points. Wounds overlaid with fresh OCS graft showed signs of rejection starting from day 7. At day 14, the epidermis was mostly rejected. The rejection was completed by day 20 with signs of immunoreaction and presence of many immune cells. Frozen OCS was rejected in the same pattern. Immediately prior to grafting, the thickness was comparable between freshly prepared and frozen OCS for 10 or 40 days. Significant reduction in viability was detected in OCS frozen for 40 days. Both fresh or frozen ovine OCS were rejected within 10 days that mimics CS rejection time in humans (∼8.4 days), suggesting that ovine model of burn wound grafted with OCS can successfully be used in burn wound research mimicking clinical scenario.
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