Affiliation:
1. Department of Pharmaceutics Rutgers University Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy Piscataway New Jersey USA
2. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Rutgers University School of Public Health Piscataway New Jersey USA
3. CounterACT Center of Excellence Rutgers University Piscataway New Jersey USA
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundSulfur mustard (SM) is a chemical warfare vesicant that severely injures exposed eyes, lungs, and skin. Mechlorethamine hydrochloride (NM) is widely used as an SM surrogate. This study aimed to develop a depilatory double‐disc (DDD) NM skin burn model for investigating vesicant pharmacotherapy countermeasures.MethodsHair removal method (clipping only versus clipping followed by a depilatory), the effect of acetone in the vesicant administration vehicle, NM dose (0.5–20 μmol), vehicle volume (5–20 μl), and time course (0.5–21 days) were investigated using male and female CD‐1 mice. Edema, an indicator of burn response, was assessed by biopsy skin weight. The ideal NM dose to induce partial‐thickness burns was assessed by edema and histopathologic evaluation. The optimized DDD model was validated using an established reagent, NDH‐4338, a cyclooxygenase, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitor prodrug.ResultsClipping/depilatory resulted in a 5‐fold higher skin edematous response and was highly reproducible (18‐fold lower %CV) compared to clipping alone. Acetone did not affect edema formation. Peak edema occurred 24–48 h after NM administration using optimized dosing methods and volume. Ideal partial‐thickness burns were achieved with 5 μmol of NM and responded to treatment with NDH‐4338. No differences in burn edematous responses were observed between males and females.ConclusionA highly reproducible and sensitive partial‐thickness skin burn model was developed for assessing vesicant pharmacotherapy countermeasures. This model provides clinically relevant wound severity and eliminates the need for organic solvents that induce changes to the skin barrier function.
Subject
Medical Laboratory Technology,Veterinary (miscellaneous),Molecular Biology,Biochemistry,Medicine (miscellaneous)