A novel mouse model for frostbite injury

Area of Science:

• Preclinical research
• Wound healing models
• Dermatology

Background:

• Frostbite is tissue freezing from cold exposure.
• A reliable, cost-effective preclinical model is needed to test frostbite therapies.
• Current models lack standardization for evaluating treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop a novel mouse skin model for induced frostbite.
• Standardize quantification of frostbite injury severity.
• Enable objective assessment of wound healing and skin loss.

Main Methods:

• Induced frostbite in 36 mice using dry ice-cooled magnets.
• Applied continuous 5-minute freeze or 3 freeze-thaw cycles.
• Quantified surface area loss, healing rate, and histology.

Main Results:

• Both methods caused ~50% skin surface area loss.
• Freeze-thaw cycles showed a significantly slower initial healing rate (P=.001).
• Histopathology confirmed inflammation, cell death, and necrosis.

Conclusions:

• A reproducible in vivo mouse frostbite model was established.
• The model allows quantification of skin damage, healing, and loss.
• This model can be used to screen potential frostbite treatments.