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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
Murine Model of Wound Healing
Published on: May 28, 2013
Microneedling accelerates burn wound healing and promotes collagen remodeling: Insights from a rodent model
Servet Elçin Alpat1, Burak Kaya1, Hilal Göktürk Nakkaş2
1Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
Objective:
Despite notable advancements in burn care, morbidity and mortality remain high, with progressive tissue loss typically occurring in the first 48 h post-injury. While microneedling and topical retinyl palmitate are recognized for their regenerative effects in dermatology, their roles in acute burn wound management are not well defined. This study aimed to evaluate the early therapeutic impact of microneedling and retinyl palmitate on burn wound progression in a standardized rat model.
Materials And Methods:
Twenty-four male Wistar albino rats were randomized into four groups (n = 6 each): untreated control, microneedling, microneedling plus retinyl palmitate, and retinyl palmitate alone. Under general anesthesia, a standardized comb burn injury was inflicted on the dorsal skin. Microneedling was performed once, 30 min after injury. Retinyl palmitate was applied topically once daily for 28 days. Wound healing progression was evaluated macroscopically by monitoring wound size and preservation of the zone of stasis. Histological assessment included H&E, Masson's Trichrome, PAS, Verhoeff-Van Gieson staining, and immunohistochemistry for collagen types I and III.
Results:
Microneedling significantly reduced wound area and improved preservation of the stasis zone (p < 0.05). Histologically, microneedling induced near-complete re-epithelialization, minimal inflammatory infiltration, and organized collagen type I deposition resembling normal skin architecture. Retinyl palmitate monotherapy failed to improve healing and was associated with persistent inflammation and delayed neovascularization. Combination therapy did not offer additional benefits.
Conclusion:
Microneedling applied in the acute phase of burn injury accelerates healing, preserves viable tissue, and promotes favorable collagen remodeling. Retinyl palmitate showed no therapeutic benefit in this model. These findings highlight microneedling as a promising stand-alone intervention for early burn treatment and encourage clinical exploration of this technique in acute burn care.
