Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Murine Model of Wound Healing
Published on: May 28, 2013
The effects of colchicine treatment on wound healing in a caustic murine injury model
R Y Wang1, T Abrams, P Monfils
1Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. Richard-Wang@brown.edu
Objective:
The present study determined the effects of colchicine on wound repair in a murine model of dermal chemical injury.
Methods:
Standardized 4.15 cm2 circular lesions were induced on the dorsum of adult male mice with NaOH. Five minutes of IN or 3N caused lesions of graded depth. Mice received colchicine (1 mg/kg) or phosphate-buffered saline intraperitoneally in equivalent volumes. Treatment began immediately postinjury and was continued on an alternating day schedule for 14 days. Wound size was measured every third day postinjury. On day 15 postinjury, wounds were histologically graded for depth of injury, degree of fibrosis, inflammatory cell response, and revascularization. All histological determinations and wound measurements were performed in a blinded fashion.
Results:
All mice had a similar initial wound size and completed the experimental protocol. In dermal wounds of superficial depth, colchicine-treated mice (n = 20) had a larger wound size during days 6 through 9 of the experimental trial when compared to phosphate-buffered saline-treated mice (n = 18). In the deeper wounds, there were no significant differences in wound size between colchicine and phosphate-buffered saline-treated groups. Colchicine (n = 54) did not affect the degree of fibrosis at all depths of injury vs phosphate-buffered saline treatment in mice (n = 55). The degree of wound revascularization was less in colchicine-treated mice (n = 54) than phosphate-buffered saline-treated mice (n = 55).
Conclusion:
Colchicine did not improve wound healing in an alkaline-induced dermal injury.
Insights
Colchicine treatment did not improve wound healing in mice with alkaline-induced dermal injuries. It did not affect fibrosis but reduced revascularization, suggesting potential negative impacts on tissue repair.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Wound Healing Research
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Alkaline chemical injuries can cause significant dermal damage.
- Understanding the efficacy of anti-inflammatory agents like colchicine in wound repair is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of colchicine on wound repair following alkali-induced dermal injury in a murine model.
- To assess colchicine's impact on wound size, fibrosis, and revascularization.
Main Methods:
- Standardized dermal lesions were induced using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in adult male mice.
- Mice received intraperitoneal injections of colchicine (1 mg/kg) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS).
- Wound size, depth, fibrosis, inflammatory response, and revascularization were evaluated over 14 days.
Main Results:
- Colchicine treatment resulted in larger superficial wound sizes between days 6 and 9 compared to PBS controls.
- No significant differences in wound size were observed in deeper wounds.
- Colchicine did not alter fibrosis but led to reduced revascularization in the wounds.
Conclusions:
- Colchicine did not demonstrate a therapeutic benefit for wound healing in this model of alkaline-induced dermal injury.
- The observed reduction in revascularization suggests potential adverse effects of colchicine on tissue repair processes.
