Abstract
Sulfur mustard (2,2' dichlorodiethyl sulfide, HD) is a chemical warfare agent that is easily produced, and may be used against civilian populations as well as against military troops. However, good therapeutic and prophylactic measures await a better understanding of the pathophysiology of lesions produced by this agent. Because the skin remains is one of the principal routes for HD exposure and damage, the study of HD-induced skin lesions is of major interest. Blister formation is a characteristic of HD-induced skin lesions in humans. Attempts have been made to find an animal model that produces cutaneous microblisters after exposure to the naturally occurring liquid as well as vaporized HD. Weanling pigs were exposed to three different doses of liquid HD. Histopathologic findings showed microblister formation as well as variable apoptosis and/or necrosis of epidermal keratinocytes and vascular endothelium. Pig skin is morphologically similar to human skin. In the pig, the epidermal lipids, the density of hair follicles, the presence of sweat glands, the proliferation kinetics, and the antigenicity are all closer to human skin than are rodent models. All these features may be important in lesions induced by HD, and may mean that the pig is a superior model for studying the pathophysiology of HD-induced cutaneous lesions.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.