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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Murine Model of Wound Healing
Published on: May 28, 2013
db/db mice exhibit severe wound-healing impairments compared with other murine diabetic strains in a
Joseph Michaels1, Samara S Churgin, Keith M Blechman
1Laboratory of Microvascular Research and Vascular Tissue Engineering, Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Abstract:
The pathophysiology of diabetic wound healing and the identification of new agents to improve clinical outcomes continue to be areas of intense research. There currently exist more than 10 different murine models of diabetes. The degree to which wound healing is impaired in these different mouse models has never been directly compared. We determined whether differences in wound impairment exist between diabetic models in order to elucidate which model would be the best to evaluate new treatment strategies. Three well-accepted mouse models of diabetes were used in this study: db/db, Akita, and streptozocin (STZ)-induced C57BL/6J. Using an excisional model of wound healing, we demonstrated that db/db mice exhibit severe impairments in wound healing compared with STZ and Akita mice. Excisional wounds in db/db mice show a statistically significant delay in wound closure, decreased granulation tissue formation, decreased wound bed vascularity, and markedly diminished proliferation compared with STZ, Akita, and control mice. There was no difference in the rate of epithelialization of the full-thickness wounds between the diabetic or control mice. Our results suggest that splinted db/db mice may be the most appropriate model for studying diabetic wound-healing interventions as they demonstrate the most significant impairment in wound healing. This study utilized a novel model of wound healing developed in our laboratory that stents wounds open using silicone splints to minimize the effects of wound contraction. As such, it was not possible to directly compare the results of this study with other studies that did not use this wound model.
Insights
Diabetic wound healing research requires effective mouse models. This study found that db/db mice show the most significant wound healing impairment, making them ideal for testing new diabetic wound treatments.
Area of Science:
- Diabetic wound healing research
- Murine models of diabetes
- Regenerative medicine
Background:
- Diabetic wound pathophysiology and treatment development are critical research areas.
- Multiple mouse models of diabetes exist, but their wound healing impairment has not been directly compared.
- Identifying the most suitable model is crucial for evaluating novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the degree of wound healing impairment across three distinct diabetic mouse models.
- To determine the most appropriate murine model for preclinical evaluation of diabetic wound healing interventions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized three established diabetic mouse models: db/db, Akita, and streptozocin (STZ)-induced C57BL/6J.
- Employed a standardized excisional wound healing model.
- Incorporated a novel wound splinting technique using silicone to prevent contraction and enable direct comparison of healing parameters.
Main Results:
- db/db mice exhibited significantly delayed wound closure, reduced granulation tissue, and decreased vascularity compared to STZ, Akita, and control groups.
- Proliferation was markedly diminished in db/db mice.
- No significant differences in epithelialization rates were observed among the groups.
Conclusions:
- The db/db mouse model demonstrates the most severe impairment in wound healing, making it a suitable model for studying diabetic wound interventions.
- The novel splinted wound model allows for more accurate assessment of healing processes.
- Further research using the db/db model can accelerate the development of effective treatments for diabetic foot ulcers and other chronic wounds.
