Temporal Progression of Tracheal Wound Healing After Partial-thickness Rat Injury Analyzed by Histology and qRT-PCR.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Wound healing is difficult to study due to interspecies variation in healing mechanisms, rates, and genetic factors. This study aimed to characterize tracheal wound healing in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) following a thin, partial-thickness injury using a modified Derby-Perry Excavator. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four male Wistar rats underwent endotracheal wounding under ketamine anesthesia. Each rat was euthanized at one, three, five, or six days post-injury. Excised tracheas were bisected for histological examination (Hematoxylin and Eosin staining) and quantitative RT-PCR analysis of COL3A1 mRNA expression. RESULTS: Partial-thickness tracheal injury resulted in accelerated wound healing. Histology and COL3A1 expression indicated rapid progression of healing phases. Inflammation resolved by day 3, with the proliferative phase beginning around day 2, peaking at day 3, and transitioning to maturation by day 5. The rapid timeline likely reflects the small, superficial nature of the wound. CONCLUSION: Partial-thickness tracheal injury using a modified Derby-Perry Excavator produced a reproducible, rapidly healing model suitable for studying airway repair mechanisms.