Effect of gamma radiations on burn wound healing in mouse model

Combined radiation and burn injury is defined as thermal trauma along with radiation injury. It can occur in people exposed to nuclear explosions, nuclear accidents or radiological terrorist attacks. Previous studies had reported the delay in irradiated wounds as radiation results in fibroblast injury as well as endothelial cell necrosis. Here, we studied the effect of gamma radiations on burn wound healing in comparison of single injuries. To investigate the effect of radiation on the healing of burn wounds, C57BL/6 male mice were irradiated with a selected dose, using a ⁶⁰Co γ-irradiator, along with 5% of whole body full thickness burn. Wound contraction, wound size and eschar fall were evaluated in combined injury burn wounds. Skin histology along with hydroxyproline estimation was performed. Various oxidative stress markers were studied. Body weight change, food and water uptake were recorded daily. Combined burn wound had shown a delayed wound healing, when compared to burn alone group. Further, wound skin histology had shown a higher inflammation in combined burn wound even after 14 days of injury. Decreased hydroxyproline levels were observed in combined injury group. Biochemical parameters resulted in increased oxidative stress in combined injury animals as compared to individual injuries. Our data showed a significant reduction in body weight in combined injury group along with decreased uptake of food and water, when compared with individual injuries. In this study, we observed that gamma irradiated burn wounds show delayed healing as compared to burn alone wounds. (author)