Objective: Utilization of the autologous and allogeneic skin substitutes seems to be a promising treatment option. In this study, the authors used amniotic membrane covered with cultured allogenic fibroblast as a skin substitute in the treatment of acute wounds.
Materials and methods: Full-thickness wounds were created on rats' dorsum regions and treated with cultured allogenic fibroblast on an acellular amniotic membrane (AAM+F), an acellular amniotic membrane (AAM) alone, an allogenic fibroblast suspension (AFS), or normal saline as a control (C). Specimen biopsies were obtained 7 days after wounding. Quantitative wound healing parameters including the epidermal thickness, the mean number of keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and lymphocytes were assessed.
Results: All transplanted wounds exhibited significantly further contraction compared with the nontransplanted wounds. Wounds transplanted with AAM+F and AAM showed a significant increase in epidermal thickness compared to nontransplanted wounds. Wounds transplanted with AAM+F or AAM showed improved epidermal healing compared to nongrafted wounds. Furthermore, granulation of tissue formation in the AAM+F group was more organized when compared to AFS and the normal saline groups.
Conclusion: Quantitative assessment of the full-thickness wounds showed transplantation of AAM+F and AAM better improve wound healing parameters when compared to treatment with AFS and the normal saline groups.