OBJECTIVETo establish an ideal model of human hyperplastic scar (HS) in nude mice, so as to provide us a new model to carry out further studies on the mechanism of HS development.

METHODSFull skin defect sized 2.0 cm x 1.5 cm was created on the back of 100 nude mice. The defect was thereafter covered with full thickness human skin. After the grafted skin survived, the nude mice were subjected to deep partial thickness burn of the grafted skin with heated copper rod. The development of the hyperplasia of the scar after wound healing was observed histologically and grossly.

RESULTSGrafted full-thickness human skin took and survived well in 86 out of 100 nude mice. There was obvious and continuous hyperplasia of scar in 67 mice (78%). The external appearance and histological features of the HS appeared similar to those in human HS. The average thickness of the scar was 0.34 cm, with the thickest part measuring 0.6 cm. In addition, the time of hyperplastic change lasted for 63 - 217 days in average of 128 days.

CONCLUSIONObvious and continuous scar hyperplasia could be found in this model, and the whole process beginning from wound healing to the formation of HS could be easily observed. The model was therefore suitable and ideal for the study of HS.