Potential anti-inflammatory treatments against cutaneous sulfur mustard injury using the mouse ear vesicant model

• Published in: Human & experimental toxicology Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 197 - 203
• Main Authors: Dachir, S, Fishbeine, E, Meshulam, Y, Sahar, R, Amir, A, Kadar, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA SAGE Publications 01.04.2002; Arnold; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Administration, Topical; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Ear - injuries; Edema - chemically induced; Edema - drug therapy; Gas, fumes; Irritants - toxicity; Medical sciences; Mice; Models, Animal; Mustard Gas - toxicity; Skin - drug effects; Skin - injuries; Steroids; Toxicology; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; steroids; inflammation; mouse ear vesicant model; sulfur mustard; Steroid; Animal model; Skin disease; Toxicity; Rodentia; Antiinflammatory agent; Sulfur mustard; Inflammation; Non steroidal antiinflammatory agent; Vertebrata; Chemotherapy; Mammalia; Treatment; Mouse; Ear; Antidote; Topical administration
• ISSN: 0960-3271; 1477-0903
• DOI: 10.1191/0960327102ht229oa

In spite of several decades of research, no effective treatment to skin injuries following exposure to sulfur mustard (HD) has yet been found. In the present study, the mouse ear vesicant model was applied to awake mice in order to evaluate the efficiency of potential anti-inflammatory treatments in preventing HD-induced skin damages. Clinical follow-up and histological evaluation were used to characterize the injuries to the skin and to evaluate the efficiency of the drugs that were applied. Thus, the extent of mouse ear oedema and the histopathological changes following a single application of 0.2 or 1 L of neat HD for 10 min (representing moderate and severe lesions, respectively), were monitored. Typical HD skin lesions were observed including epithelial and dermal damage. The development of the injury in mouse ears was found to be very similar to that reported in human skin. Screening of post-exposure topical steroids and non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) proved that HD-induced inflammation could be diminished significantly as long as the treatment was applied during the early stages following exposure. A combined application of these drugs approved to be particularly effective in reducing inflammation.