Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2021, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (2): 237-241.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2981

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Establishment of an acute radioactive skin injury model in Wistar rats

Chen Yutong1, 2, 3, Li Chenchen1, 2, 3, Liu Yang1, 2, 3, Zheng Yaqin4, Yang Xihua5, An Meiwen1, 2, 3    

  1. 1Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi Province, China; 2Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Material Strength and Structural Impact, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi Province, China; 3Experimental Center for Nanomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi Province, China; 4Radiotherapy Technology Center, 5Animal Laboratory Center, Shanxi Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan 030013, Shanxi Province, China
  • Received:2020-01-20 Revised:2020-01-21 Accepted:2020-03-03 Online:2021-01-18 Published:2020-11-21
  • Contact: An Meiwen, MD, Professor, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi Province, China
  • About author:Chen Yutong, Master candidate, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi Province, China
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 31870934

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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Nowadays, the ray types, animal species, irradiation modes and sites used in the establishment of animal models of radioactive skin injury in China are not consistent. Meanwhile, there is no uniform standard for the prevention and treatment of radioactive skin injury in clinical practice. 
OBJECTIVE: To establish an ideal rat model of acute radioactive skin injury.
METHODS: Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 32, 38, 45 Gy X-ray groups (n=18) and non-irradiated group (n=6). Three X-ray irradiated groups (32, 38, 45 Gy) received single irradiation of the right posterior buttock, 300 cGy/min, 100 cm between the skin and irradiated source, for 10.67, 12.67, and 15 minutes respectively. No irradiation was given in the non-irradiated group. The study protocol was approved by the Animal Ethic Committee of Shanxi Cancer Hospital (approval No. GDY2018001).
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was no accidental death after irradiation. The body mass of the rats decreased within 3 days after irradiation, and then increased. Irradiated wound was severest at about 15 days after irradiation, and the body mass dropped again, and returned to normal 2 days later. Two weeks after radiation, with the increase of X-ray dose, the structures of rat’s skin appendages were destroyed and a large number of inflammatory cells were infiltrated, indicating that the acute radiation skin injury was dose-dependent within a certain range. On the other hand, with the increase of irradiation time, the skin wound in the 38 and 45 Gy groups gradually deepened. At the same dose, the severity of acute radiation skin injury was also positively correlated with the irradiation time. After 6 hours to 15 days of 38 Gy irradiation on the rat skin, macrophages were activated, and the expression of Nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 was enhanced, indicating obvious inflammatory response, and thereby verifying the reliability of the model. To conclude, it is an ideal animal model of acute X-ray skin injury model made by the X-ray linear accelerator, which is easily observed and obtained, with obvious skin inflammation expression. This model is also of high safety and strong tolerance.

Key words: X-ray,   radioactive skin injury,   local irradiation,  animal model,  Wistar rats,  inflammation,  macrophage,  Nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 

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