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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
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Mouse Model of Pressure Ulcers After Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: March 9, 2019
A chronic pressure ulcer model in the nude mouse
Esther Wassermann1, Martijn van Griensven, Karin Gstaltner
1Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, 1200 Vienna, Austria. esther.wassermann@lbitrauma.org
Summary
Researchers developed a new nude mouse model for deep pressure ulcers, mimicking human conditions. This model allows for studying pressure ulcer mechanisms and testing new therapies effectively.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Wound Healing Research
- Animal Models
Background:
- The pathophysiology of pressure ulcers remains incompletely understood.
- Existing experimental models often fail to replicate the full depth and complexity of clinical pressure ulcers, typically affecting only skin and subcutaneous tissue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a clinically relevant deep pressure ulcer model in nude mice that involves all relevant tissue layers.
- To provide a more accurate preclinical tool for investigating pressure ulcer development.
Main Methods:
- Balb/c nude mice underwent surgical implantation of a steel disk under the gluteus muscle, followed by a 10-day recovery period.
- Periodic pressure was applied using a Neodymium magnet and disk system in unanesthetized mice over varying cycle counts (1-10).
- Histological evaluations assessed tissue damage, necrosis, and inflammatory cell infiltration.
Main Results:
- Pressure ulcer severity was directly dependent on the number of compression cycles, with the highest grade observed after 10 cycles.
- Histological analysis confirmed necrosis in skin and subcutaneous fat by four cycles, and in muscle tissue by eight to 10 cycles.
- Polymorphonuclear granulocyte infiltration varied with the number of compression cycles, indicating an inflammatory response.
Conclusions:
- The developed nude mouse model offers clinical relevance for studying deep pressure ulcer mechanisms.
- This model provides a valuable platform for evaluating novel therapeutic strategies for pressure ulcers.
