Longitudinal Study of Scar Hyperplasia Formation Following Cleft Lip Wound Healing

J Craniofac Surg. 2018 Mar;29(2):e211-e215. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000004345.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to observe the hyperplasia trend of scar after the cleft lip surgery in a rabbit animal model, and determine the time-point of the highest hypertrophic degree of scar after cleft lip repair. Forty New Zealand white rabbits from the same offspring were used to establish a cleft lip wound healing model using Millard surgery procedure. The scar volumes were measured and granulation tissues were observed visually in the 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks after operation. The scar tissues were harvested at the indicated time-points. Immunohistochemical (IHC) and Western Blot analyses were performed to detect the expression level of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the scar tissue. The scars shrunk and the volumes reduced at 3 to 4 weeks after surgery; however, at 5 weeks postsurgery, the volumes increased. IHC and Western blot analyses indicated the expression of α-SMA was significantly enhanced 3 to 4 weeks, but reduced in the 5 weeks after surgery. Overall, the degree of scar hyperplasia after cleft lip surgery in rabbits was normally distributed and the scarring was most severe in the 3 to 4 weeks after cleft lip surgery. The study confirms a novel animal model for the assessment of therapies for the treatment of scar hyperplasia of human cleft lip in future.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cicatrix / metabolism
  • Cicatrix / pathology*
  • Cleft Lip / surgery
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Granulation Tissue*
  • Hyperplasia / metabolism
  • Hyperplasia / pathology
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Rabbits
  • Time Factors
  • Wound Healing*

Substances

  • Actins